4th OTOP Mindanao Island Fair, DONE!!!

After rendering 11 hours a day for 4 days, the 4th OTOP Mindanao Island Fair has finally come to an end! I, and the rest of the students felt so relieved after the 4-day voluntary work! "We could finally get a very well-deserved rest!"

Just to sum up what transpired during the 4-day ordeal:

The student's role was to encode all day-end sales report of all 100 (plus) exhibitors who came from all over Mindanao, and submit the daily report to the DTI personnel. This way, DTI will be able to determine the top sellers for each day, and come up with the overall top-seller on the 4th day.

There was nothing "out-of-the-ordinary" during the 4-day ordeal since the tasks were routinary. However, the students, including myself, had a great time savoring all the free taste-tests from some of the exhibitors who displayed edible food. We also enjoyed the "bottomless-coffee" which was being served by the Nescafe booth. There was a booth which sold "buy 1 take 1" burgers for 28 pesos. When we asked how much a piece of burger cost, they answered "14 pesos, sir!" Wow! what a great way to sell a buy 1 take 1 product!!! (duh!)

All in all, the group had a great time and experience during their 4-day volunteer work at the Garden Orchid Convention Center. We just hope the DTI was satisfied with the work that we've rendered. (hehehe...)

Another successful work from one of the greatest team ever!

Go Software Development Group!

Go STI College Zamboanga!




Best regards,

Jonathan Paul C. Solis
JPCS Moderator

4th OTOP: Mindanao Islands Fair and STI

(from http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/mindanao-investment-gab-otop-fair-slated-zambo)

"THE Mindanao Business Council (MBC) is holding a two-day 2nd Mindanao Investment Conference (2nd Min iCon) in Zamboanga City.

The holding of the event will be done in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and in partnership with the local government and various development agencies.

The Zamboanga Peninsula will at the same time play host to the four-day 4th One-Town One-Product (Otop) Mindanao Island Fair 2009, which will also be held in the city."

This is are two of the grand events which will happen in Zamboanga in preparation for the coming Feast of the La Virgen del Pilar (Fiesta Pilar). Merchants from all over Mindanao will be displaying their goods at the Garden Orchid Hotel from October 9 to 11.

And ofcourse, STI College Zamboanga will be playing a big part in the event. Selected students will be tasked to document and monitor all sales from the convention. These students are members of the Junior Philippine Computer Society (STI Zamboanga chapter) and members of the STI Silicone Valley Club, a club specifically for students who excel in the field of Information and Communications Technology. Their skills include, programming, web developing, database management, flash animation, and many other ICT related skills.

Together with their moderator, these students will dedicate their work to the city of Zamboanga, and to their alma-mater, STI College Zamboanga.

The following are the students who will be working for the said event:

• BJ Duran, IT 311
• Fahad Abubakar, IT 311
• Ray Morados, IT 311
• Genesis Macrohon, CS 211
• Darwin Dela Cruz, CS 211
• Marlan Marlan, CS 211

You have been chosen, because you have shown dedication for your work. And you are responsible of your actions.

With that, I wish you all GOOD LUCK!


Best regards,

Jonathan Paul C. Solis
Moderator
JPCS/STI-SVC

Software Freedom Day 2009 @ STI College Zamboanga a SUCCESS!!!

After months of preparation, it has come! Software Freedom Day 2009 @ STI College Zamboanga was such a huge success!

Participants coming from as far as DMC Dipolog, and Claret College of Isabela joined and celebrated with the Zamboangueños at STI College for this momentous and international event dubbed as SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY!

Speakers with great knowledge in the field of Free and Open Source Software enriched the minds of all the participants about the importance of FOSS and its effect to society.

It was a day full of new knowledge and, ofcourse, PRIZES!

Participants were given the benefit of winning a prize through a raffle. Prizes ranged from the simple STI sling, pouch, knapsack, and T-shirts to the Cups & Saucers from Chowking (one of the sponsors) and the much awaited FREE WEB-HOSTING and DOMAIN NAME which was won by one of STI's very own student! (congrats Nicolle!)

All in all, it was a very tiring, yet satisfying day! To think that I woke up as early as 4:00 AM and to be at the venue as early 6:30 AM to make sure everything is ready and set to go... We had some stumble-blocks along the way, but somehow got over it one-by-one.

To Sir RJ Ian Sevilla, thank you so much! For if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to organize such an event! (your convincing powers are good!)

Thank you STI College Zamboanga for all of the support and for providing a venue for this years Software Freedom Day!

And to all those who participated, THANK YOU SO MUCH with all my heart! I wouldn't have done it without you...

Continue promoting Open Source Software! and Continue supporting Software Freedom!!!

Long Live Mindanao Open Source Society!



Best regards,


Jonathan Paul Solis
Event Organizer
SFD 09
STI College Zamboanga

Youth For IT Convention @ U.P. Diliman (& FOSS)

We've just returned from a 4-day convention at U.P Diliman dubbed as Youth For Information Technology 2009, the largest IT event of the year!

Much of the talks from day 1 'til day 4 covered a range of new and satisfying (thirst quenching) information, especially to an IT enthusiast. Operating Systems, Database Systems, Web Tools, Animation Tools, IT's effect on the economy was discussed. Speakers ranged from local IT instructors, to IT professionals, student-turned-millionaire, foreigners, and even politicians.

From all of the talks that were given, there stood a common fad. And that would be OPEN SOURCE TECHNOLOGY. Although there were little talk about Microsoft, but, majority of the discussion was about FOSS.

I won't be bias when I say "Open Source Technology is the predominant software that is running in most of our computers today, without us even noticing it. It is really what drives the mainstream computing society today." (my own qoute... hehe..)

People may just be unaware that they are indeed using the technology. It could be due to being uneducated about the technology itself. Or maybe, they are still being predominantly lured into using the Windows platform and applications.

It would be wise for us to know about these types of technology. And one of the ways to be aware is by participating in the upcoming SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY! It's an annual celebration which promotes FOSS and educates the minds of IT enthusiasts about the benefits of using such technology.

I am a FOSS user, but after Y4IT, I have become an advocate.

Support Software Freedom!

Support SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY!

Please visit this site for more information:

minoss.org/sfd
http://www.softwarefreedomday.org

Thank you so much!!!

2nd STI Alumni Association Get-Together a Success!!!

Today (8/16/2009) marked the 2nd Get-Together for the STI Alumni Association, Zamboanga chapter!

It was such a fun, exciting, and tiring day! But all were happy to have had the time to spend one stress releasing day together.

The activities started a bit late, due to the fact that the participants were all Filipinos... But, all the same, it was an afternoon filled with games and non-stop fun! The 1st game was the "Huddle Race", where participants would walk together in synchronization while being tied up together. The 2nd was the "condom relay", where the participants would pass around a condom filled with water from point A to point B while making sure the condom doesn't blow. The 3rd game was the "Polo relay", where players will pass a polo candy by using a stick in their mouth, and not using their hands. The 4th was the "Candle relay" where participants would make sure that the candle their holding won't be blown by the wind as they walk from point A to point B. The 5th was an exciting one. It's the "Find the coin relay..." The coins are hidden within a 3-inch deep flour in a basin. The participants would have to blow the flour away to find 15 coins! It was fun! The 6th one was the "Build the Highest Tower". Participants would collect stones and pebbles to create a tower-like structure within 3 minutes. The last game was the "Longest Line". The participants would form the longest line using items found in their body and their own bodies as well!

All in all, the games were great! Then came the eating part! (which was the most exciting part actually! hehe...) The food was great, too! Fried chicken, chopsuey, lumpia shanghai, sotanghon, and macaroni salad! And an 8oz softdrink (or two, or three) to flush it all away. The food was just right!

Then came the last part, the "get-to-know-you" part. Having alumnis from different batches, it was obvious that majority of them didn't know who the others were. But they all got to know each other somehow.

To add it all up, it was such a great success! This year's participants exceeded those of last year! (only by a small margin, though...)

Thanks goes to the ever active, responsible, and bouncy Mr. Michael Ian Tandoc, the JPO Head for coordinating the event. Also to all the alumni officers, from the President down to the Sgt. at Arms! To the STI staff and all STI alumni who were present!

Thank you for the making the 2nd STIAA Get-Together such a wonderful and memorable event!

Hope we'll be seeing more number of participants next year!



Best regards,


Jonathan Paul Solis
Sgt. At Arms
STIAA Zamboanga!

STI 1st Gen-Meet 2009 a Success!

It was a night full of colors and fashion from the different Asian countries. Group 1 represented Malaysia, group 2 - Thailand, group 3 - India, group 4 - Philippines, and our group represented CHINA! Other groups include the Birthday group, New employees, and the Mancom.

The different groups showcased all their talents in singing and dancing. Some serious, others were funny, while the others were plain hilarious!

The heads from the different departments presented their quarterly reports and majority of the reports were positive. Nothing much to worry about.

The reception was kind-of cramped. There was very little room for the participants to move at the dinning area. I hope they moved the tables a bit forward to occupy most of the space. The presentation area ate up most of the spaces. There's really not much space for the parking also. (Maybe because there's no parking area...) The food was good, though.

But all in all, the Genmeet was a success! Congratulations to the CHINA group for winning 2nd place in the presentation. We did our best! Congratulations also to the other groups especially to the Philippines group for winning 1st place. We'll beat you next time!

Looking forward to a more colorful and more exciting Genmeet in the future!

Here are some pictures for you to see...

What's worse than getting wet in the rain while going to work twice?

GETTING WET THRICE!!!

I was on my way to work in the morning when I got wet in the rain and had to go back home. I waited for the rain to stop. Eventually, it did. So I decided to report in the afternoon. The sky was still dark though. Then all of a sudden, about half a kilometer away from work, it started to fall so hard! So I get wet the second time. Turning back was no longer an option. So I decided to stop awhile, and then moved on when the rain was misty, and eventually got to work all wet... I thought that was it. When it was time to go home (7pm) It was still raining! What other choice do I have? I can't wait until the rain stops ('cause it would take forever!) So i decided to go on home! Which led me to this blog. Call it worthless, but yes... I agree... I am to blame to the third occurrence. haha!

nuay lang! okya!

MICHAEL JACKSON is ALIVE!!!!!

True, it was very shocking news about the death of one of the world's greatest performer. And I'm sure it shocked you as much as it shocked me. We lost MICHAEL JACKSON!

I used to mimic Micheal's moves when I was a child. The kicks, the sway, the voice, but frankly, I was never able to do the moonwalk. But that didn't stop me from becoming a fan. Being a fan doesn't mean knowing all the moves. For me, simply knowing his music makes me a fan. I used to watch his concert videos at my uncles house, and I was so amazed with what he can do. Did you ever notice how people would faint when they're in the crowd? That actually made me wonder what it was like to actually see him. Would I have fainted too?

I was such a fan of Michael that it irritated me so much when I heard about the "child-abuse" case. But felt relieved when he was acquitted. The issues about him having a total make-over (plastic surgery all over his body) and how his camp would deny such accusations. Their stories were so believable that I was convinced that he had a skin disease of some sort (although not proven). Michael even mentioned that the only surgery he had was with his nose. And I believed that too!

I know most of you would critic my opinion, but that's what makes me a true fan. Just by believing in him. His songs alone would make you believe that he is what he truly is. Although I never saw him in person, but my gutt says that whatever he writes in his songs, and whatever words that came out of his mouth were all true. He believed he was a kid. And kids never lie!

But I, among all people, would also want to make myself believe that he is not DEAD! Not yet! He is still alive! Yes! HE LIVES!!! Why? Because the only time a person would be truly dead is when nobody ever talks about him anymore.

He still lives. His legacy will always remain.

Listening to his music will even make him live longer.

Having heard all this, so many questions came into my mind. Is Kurt Cobain dead? Is Layne Stanley dead? What about Elvis? Bob Marley? What about Hendrix? John Lennon? The great Dimebag Darrell?

Only one answer comes into my mind. NO! They're not dead! As long as we listen to their music, they're still alive!

Same reason why I believe that the KING OF POP is ALIVE!!!

I rest my case.




Best regards,

Jonathan Paul
-Just a fan-

ME as an UBUNTU user...

For years I've been using Windows as my OS. I used Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, and Windows Vista. That's five generations of Windows! whew! Until recently, I took up an MA with a subject that focuses on FOSS (Free and Open Source Software). During our classes, we would discuss and report anything and everything about FOSS. I was a bit confused about everything that was coming my way 'cause everything seemed so new to me. I don't know what FOSS is. What's Linux? What's Open Office? What's Apache? What's LAMP? It was hard to understand! But later, a friend of mine (sir RJ, my classmate in MA) convinced me to try requesting for a CD from UBUNTU and install it on my PC. I was like "Duh? What for?" He said, "Just try it. It's free." So I made my request from https://shipit.ubuntu.com/ and after 4 weeks the CD's arrived. I made some researches before I installed Ubuntu on my PC. And I found vidoes in YouTube which showed the unique features and advantages of Ubuntu. I was amazed with the desktop effects that ubuntu has and I was so excited to give it a try. I installed Ubuntu within my Windows XP (Dual Boot) and then tried out the features that it had. At first look, the desktop would look dry as hell! But later I found out how to modify things here and there, and I was able to make the desktop look the way I want it to be. Ofcourse, I first tried out the effects. It was MIND-BLOWING!!! But that isn't the only feature that Ubuntu has. I was wondering if it was possible to run Windows applications in Ubuntu. The answer came from sir RJ himself. "YES! Just download and configure wine from http://www.winehq.org/
" and there it was. I can run most of the windows application in just one click. But most of the applications would not run due to hardware issues. That's when I researched about restricted hardware. What's good about Ubuntu is when you attach a device to your computer it automatically detects it. You don't need to install any other drivers for your devices. It just works! Well except for other hardware that Ubuntu considers as "restricted" this means that the software being used for the hardware is not open-source. But the internet works great! It also has pre-installed applications like Open Office, Pidgin, Movie Player, Games, etc. Open Office is the counterpart of Microsoft Office. MS Office has MS Word, Open Office has Open Office Word Processor. MS Office has MS Excel, Open Office has Open Office Spreadsheet. And what's good about it is that you can open your old .doc, .xls, and .ppt files in Open Office. And you'll be given an option if you want to save the file in its original MS Office format or in the Open Office format. Pidgin is an IM tool. What's good about pdgin is that you could activate multiple IM's at once. It supports AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, IRC, MSN, ICQ, and more! It's a universal chat client. Unfortunately, Pidgin does not currently support video and audio conferencing, nor any form of audio/video communication. But the developers plan on implementing multimedia messaging in the future.

These are only some of the features that Ubuntu has. I am still an Apprentice in the Ubuntu-Linux world. And I am still learning so much about it. I am actually planning to study systems administration using the Ubuntu server in the future. For now, everything is still a puzzle to me. I am like a baby who was given a new toy. Curious. But I am already benifiting from it. Simply by using it. Why? 'Cause I don't have to pay for updates! I don't have to buy registration keys. I don't have to pay for anything! (well except for the electric and internet bills... hehe...) but software-wise, NADA!

I'll ask you this, if you're a Windows user, how much did you pay for your OS? If you're in the Philippines and you're using Windows VISTA you would've spent P9,000 to P12,000 for the OS alone. You're gonna have to purchase Microsoft Office 2007 and that's around the same price. Unlike XP, well you'll find lots of downloadable applications in the web, and there are lots of pirated CD's out there in the black market. But still, you'll have to pay for those pirated CD's.

Come to think about it, I made a good move by switching to Ubuntu. And one more thing... it's VIRUS FREE!!!

So, what do you think? Is it time to switch? You decide.


Best regards,

Jonathan Paul Solis
Ubuntu User

Music moves me...

I was 10 years old when I first got interested in playing a guitar. My uncle had a guitar hanging in his closet. He didn't know that I would secretly go in there and mess with his guitar. Well ofcourse, at first I didn't know how to "actually play". I was just simply amazed by the different sounds it would make. One day, my dad saw me playing with the guitar in my uncle's bedroom. Inspired, or maybe motivated to make me learn, he bought me a nylon-stringed guitar the following day and asked my uncle to tutor me everyday during the summer of 1992. So, the first day came. And on the 1st day, I learned all the basic chords, and I learned to play two full songs! It was "Everything I do, I do it for you" by Bryan Adams and "Knocking on Heavens Door" by Gun's 'n Roses.

Before that, I was actually already listening to heavy metal bands (on cassette tapes) like Metallica, Megadeth, Motorhead, Slayer, Pantera, and the likes. And Hair-Metal bands like Bon Jovi, Poison, Guns n Roses, Aerosmith, Ratt, Cinderella, Twisted Sisters, etc. Later came the Grunge-era with the likes of the immortal NIRVANA and counterpart Pearl Jam. Other bands came into the picture, like Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Creed, etc. Local pinoy bands also came into the picture which sort-of also influenced me one way or another. The Eraserheads, Rivermaya, Wolfgang, Yano, and The Youth were some of these local bands.

But hey! Even before digging to these type of tunes, I was a Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer addict! And V. Ice's pinoy counterpart, Francis M. was a great inspiration! these people make me want to dance like crazy!

As far as I can remember, it was actually my dad who influenced me into Heavy Metal without me actually noticing it. I remember so well how he would play BLACK SABBATH Vol. 2 over and over again. But I was such a young lad back then that I didn't even notice what type of music it was.

I got interested with having my own band when I reached High School. I've been with different bands since then even when I was in college.

I can't imagine where I would be without music in my life. Until now, I still play the music I love where ever I go. I still play with my bands when ever I get the chance.

I love music! No matter what genre. But the type of music that I dig the most is METAL!

long live HEAVY METAL!

ROCK ON!!!

My life as in IT instructor...

It's been roughly six months since I started teaching IT in my alma-mater. Yes, I am teaching in the same school I graduated six years ago. You might be asking "Why only 6 months?" Well, the answer is simple. It was never really my intention to teach. Yes. Never in dreams have I even thought of teaching! But I guess it's fate that brought me here.

But before I even got into the academe world, I've worked in other different companies (4 companies to be exact... a total of 5 companies in the span of 5 years!) I worked as Contractual clerk for DBP Service corporation for, 3 years. But between that, I also worked for Horizon Wi-Fi systems corp for... 3 DAYS! (LOL!)... after 3 years of working with DBP, I resigned and worked for a Canadian gold and silver mining company, TVIRD. My life with TVI was, by far, the best I've ever had! (I was the company's Systems Administrator) Imagine this... lodging, transportation, laundry, meals, cellphone load... all FREE!!! I would love to trade the job I have now for the job that I once had with TVI. Unfortunately, news came about a possible shutdown of the company due to depleted ore reserves. Thinking fast, I decided to resign even before the company actually shutdown (which I believe was a WRONG move...). Months later, the company temporarily stopped operation for 6 months. Only to open up again with a different material as their source of income... SULPHIDE... accordingly, the company no longer processes the product, but delivers the materials by bulk. Approximate lifespan for the Sulphide mine is 3 years, or more. But then, that's that.

Anyway, going back. So, I was jobless for 2 months when I read news about an urgent need for an HRIS Specialist at Universidad de Zamboanga. It was an opportunity I didn't dare to miss. I was hired after a few interviews and some examination. A few months later, 4 to be exact, I got fed up with the way the HR manager was running the place, plus the very small pay. Lies, corruption, swindling... these are only a few of the things I could remember about the former HR manager. Eventually, I resigned... again...

I was hoping I would be accepted in one of the Government offices which I applied for during my jobless days. But unfortunately, after wasting P1,000 for two separate ychological examinations, nothing. I was losing hope and was never planning to apply for any other. But then my phone received a text message one day. And to my surprise, it was our former GE head from STI College (now the Academic Coordinator) offering me a job as IT Instructor. I was hesitant at first, but then I pushed thru with my application. A few days later, I was hired. And I am so grateful of what I am right now. Not only will I gain personal knowledge, but I will also experience Professional growth.

Now, I believe in fate. Maybe its because most of my grandparents were instructors and professors, professionals in the Academic field.

I believe that fate brought me here, and I am doing all my best to be the best that I could be. It feels so great to be able to touch the lives of others. As it is said, "Teaching is the noblest of professions", and so I believe.

I dedicate my being an IT instructor to my ever loving wife, Neliza, and to my very healthy and bouncy baby boy, Paul Steven.

This is only the tip of the ice-berg for me. I am very sure that more blessings will come soon.

'til next time! Thanks for reading my blog!


Best regards,

Jonathan Paul C. Solis
IT Instructor

SFD 2009 - STI College Zamboanga!

On September 19, 2009, STI-College Zamboanga will be celebrating Software Freedom Day 2009!!!

The event's main purpose is to be able to spread FOSS awareness in Zamboanga city and it's neighboring provinces and cities in Region IX.

"Software Freedom Day (SFD) is an annual worldwide celebration of free/open-source software. SFD is a public education effort, not only to celebrate the virtues of free/open-source software, but also to encourage its use, to the benefit of the public.

Software Freedom Day was established in 2004 and was first observed on August 28, 2004 when over 70 teams participated. Since that time it has grown in popularity as more than 300 teams from over 60 countries celebrated on the second SFD, held on September 10, 2005. The primary sponsor for 2005-2006 was Canonical Ltd., the company behind Ubuntu, a Linux distribution.

From 2006 onwards, it has been decided the Software Freedom Day to be held on the third Saturday of each September: 15 September 2007, 20 September 2008, etc." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_Freedom_Day)

Pre-registration for the event is on-going! kindly visit:

http://bxserv.com/sfdr9/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=55

for pre-registration.

Student registration is P200.00

Professional registration is P300.00

Kindly email me at jonathanpaul81@gmail.com for inquiries on payment.

Please lclick on the following links for more information:

http://softwarefreedomday.org/

http://bxserv.com/sfdr9/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=28

http://www.sfdphil.org/cts/home

http://softwarefreedomday.org/

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/279869/40363421?m=95ac708a&ref=mf

Please help the cause in supporting OPEN SOURCE TECHNOLOGY by celebrating SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY on SEPTEMBER 19, 2009.

Tentative venue for the said event in region 9 will be at the 3rd floor of STI College Zamboanga.

Please help us by celebrating with us.

Thank you so much!!!

Best regards,

Jonathan Paul Solis

Event Head Organizer - Software Freedom Day 2009

STI College Zamboanga city