Make Room

I heard of a story about this kid who played the ‘Innkeeper’ in the re-enactment of the Christmas Story.

This kid was very excited, yet nervous. He was rehearsing his only line, “Sorry, but there’s no more room.”

“Sorry, but there’s no more room.”

“Sorry, but there’s no more room,” he mumbled to himself.

The play began, and the time for him to say the line came. He told the other kids playing Mary and Joseph, “Sorry, but there’s no more room.”

His part was over and he was supposed to get off the stage but then, he screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Wait!”

And in a mellow voice he said, “You could use my room.”

---

Are you willing to make room for Jesus Christ, The Savior, in your heart this season?

This Christmas.

 In the midst of all the parties.

The merriment. The food. The gifts.

Let us not celebrate as if the celebrant is not present. Make room for Jesus Christ in your heart and in your celebrations.

From my family to yours, have a Christ-centered Christmas everyone!

Shah Mat

IN PACE REQUIESCAT

REYNALDO YUMANG ISIP

1944 - 2014

On Covers and Originals

You'll never appreciate covers of songs unless you've heard the original versions.

On the other hand, certain covers are so good that the original versions don't matter altogether anyway.

Tatt Awards 2014

Known for its strong stance on making a mark in the world, Globe Telecom's broadband brand Tattoo has continued to offer the best product portfolios and top notch services that arms every customer to do just that.  From blazing speeds to reliability in connection, each customer now equipped with the right tool, is able to conquer their own social media space, with some even taking it further.

With the brave, the witty and the bold standing out, Tattoo stood witness to the evolution of social media. From creative photos and videos down to socially relevant online movements, social media has gone bigger, with its influence felt even on ground - hence, the Tatt Awards.  The annual Tatt Awards took shape with only one solid goal -recognizing greatness online.

From the online mavericks to the digital rock stars, Tatt Awards continues to celebrate people whose presence on social media continues to move and influence the majority despite the medium’s constant change.

As Tatt Awards reaches its 4^th year, the unexpected becomes the undefeated. Being the foremost award-giving body in social media, Tatt Awards 2014 will recognize the masters of reinvention - those who have adapted to the medium, and have flourished with it, remaining relevant across generations.  Tatt Awards also takes it up a notch, aiming to reach an international audience through its strong partnerships with worldwide digital outlets and special categories that will be awarded to international personalities.

As SVP (Senior Vice-President) for Tattoo Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao shares "Tatt Awards is Tattoo’s testament to making a mark and moving the world. Our mission to recognize greatness in the unexpected brings to life the brand’s philosophy alongside our portfolio of products and services that pave the way to fuel each and everyone's different passions, giving each customer the power to express and make a difference.”

Starting July 1, 2014 until July 11, 2014 anyone with a Facebook or Twitter account will be able to nominate groups or individuals in 11 different categories:  

The One

Trending Twitter Phenom of the Year

Youtube Phenom of the Year

Instagram Phenom of the Year

Best Social Media Movement Award

Best Digital Music Artist Presented by Spotify

Best Style Blog/MicroBlog Award

Best Fitness Blog/MicroBlog Award

Best Tech Blog/MicroBlog Award

Best Podcast Award 

Best Lifestyle Blog/MicroBlog Award

The rigorous process of nomination, deliberation and public voting, will then be led by a select group of individuals called the Tatt Council. The Tatt Council is made up of personalities from different backgrounds and expertise. This year’s Tatt Council are:

VP for Globe Platinum Dong Ronquillo  

Music Advocate Jim Paredes

Multimedia Host Bianca Gonzalez 

Sports Maven Mika Aereen  

Award-Winning Director Erik Matti  

Youngest Female Mayor Pie Alvarez   

Mashable Journalist Bianca Consunji 

Celebrity Heartthrob James Reid 

Rappler Social Media Head Stacy de Jesus

The Tatt council will be shortlisting the nominees down to 5 (five) finalists per category through the following criteria: content quality (20%), social media impact (20%), relevance to the specific category (10%). The remaining 50% will then be decided through public voting

Screening of nominations will be from July 10, 2014 leading to the announcement of the finalists on July 15, 2014. Public voting will then be open starting July 15, 2014 to August 3, 2014. After the tallying of votes, the winners of Tatt Awards 2014 will be revealed on August 8, 2014.

Winners of the major categories of Tatt Awards 2014 will receive a cash prize of Php 100,000.00 and special awards will receive Php 50,000.00.

To know more about the Tatt Awards and its detailed mechanics, visit TattAwards.com 

#boomPH Social Media Day 2014 Happening Later Today

The month of June may mean several things to several people, but for a certain group in the Philippines, it means only one thing --- it's time for Social Media Day.

Yep. It's that time of year when every Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube user to name a few, together with bloggers, digital marketers, online community managers and even tri-media converge to celebrate this wonderful gift we call social media.

This year, in Metro Manila, Social Media Day 2014 will be held today, June 28 in its grandest venue yet --- the Samsung Hall of SM Aura Premier in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Social Media users from all corners of Metro Manila and the suburbs will join the biggest social media party yet, to celebrate the best of online media in the Philippines or #boomPH.

If you're reading this, you're a social media user. You deserve to join this celebration. You can still register at tweetupmnl.com and get your free tickets! See you there! :D

iBlog10: The 10th Philippine Blogging Summit (Intro by GM Rege)

Bloggers from all over the Philippines will once again converge at the Malcolm Theater, UP Diliman College of Law for the most awaited blogging event of the year, iBlog 10: The 10th Philippine Blogging Summit. iBlog is now on its 10th year and we are just ecstatic for everything that will take place during the next two days.

I first attended iBlog7 back in 2011 when I was still in college and I was (and still am) always looking forward to attending next year's summit. I'm so glad to be attending this year's iBlog as I missed iBlog9 last year because I was confined in the hospital. This year, I'm excited to see the past and returning speakers of iBlog. My good friend Ivan Saldajeno of sportyguy.info will be speaking on the rise of the sports bloggers on Day 2 of the summit.

Here's more info regarding iBlog10:

iBlog: The 10th Philippine Blogging Summit (#iblog10) is slated today, April 4 and tomorrow April 5, 2014 at the Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law, UP Diliman, Quezon City from 8 AM to 5 PM.

A decade of blogging and moving forward
On our 10th year, we encourage our speakers, bloggers, and participants to share insights in retrospective about the past 10 years and how we do all want to move forward.

Note that the first 300 registered participants to come early (on or before 9 am) will be given food stub and participant kit. Afterwards, remaining food stubs and participant kits shall be given to early walk-ins.

 #iblog10 is a FREE 2-day event. We have invited speakers who were part of iBlog in the past 10 years and those who have also made a big impact to the blog and social media space. On the 2nd day, we accommodated a few topic submissions from first-time iBlog speakers to add that newbie touch while sticking to our theme of retrospective and moving forward.

DAY 1 AGENDA

9:00 to 9:20 Flag ceremony, prayer, participant intro (limited)
9:20 to 10:00 Bloggers as New Media Personalities (Carlo Ople and Noemi Lardizabal Dado)
10:00 to 10:30 BREAK
10:30 to 11:30 Building Communities through Blogging (Azrael Coladilla, Jinoe Gavan, and Vince Golangco)
11:30 to 12:45 LUNCH
12:45 to 1:15 SPONSOR TALK
1:15 to 2:15 Bloggers as Digital Marketers (Grace Bondad Nicolas, Jonel Uy, Fitz Villafuerte, Boris Joaquin)
2:15 to 3:00: Blogging as Part of Internet Marketing and Advertising (Jeoff Solas, Mannix Borromeo Pabalan, and Brad Geiser)
3:00 to 3:30 BREAK
3:30 to 4:00 Bloggers as Activist (Tonyo Cruz and Francis Acero)
4:10 to 4:30 State of Blogging in the Philippines – report from bloggers in the countryside (Ruben Licera Jr.)
4:30 RAFFLE/GROUP SHOT

DAY 2 AGENDA
9:00 to 9:20 Flag ceremony, prayer, participant intro (limited)
9:20 to 9:40 The Rise of the Sports Bloggers (Ivan Stewart Saldajeno)
9:50 to 10:10 Future-Proof Link Building: No Spam, More Juice (Jayson Bagio)
10:20 to 10:50 BREAK
10:50 to 11:10 Why Doctors and other Professionals should Blog? (Bien Nillos)
11:20 to 12:10 Bloggers as Entrepreneurs (Genesis Reonico, Sonnie Santos, and Vanj Padilla)
12:10 to 1:10 LUNCH
1:10 to 1:40 SPONSOR TALK: GMA Network (Howie Severino)
1:50 to 2:20 Crowdsourcing, Social Media, and its Impact on Business (Richard Eldridge and Lace Llanora)
2:30 to 2:50 Mentoring Entrepreneurs through Blogging and Social Media (Christian Blanquera)
3:00 to 3:30 BREAK
3:30 to 3:50 The Present and Future of Internet Regulation (Atty. JJ Disini)
4:00 to 4:20 The Philippine Internet at 20 years old (Janette Toral)
4:30 to 4:50 Future of Blogging and Social Media
4: 50 RAFFLE and GROUP SHOT

EMCEES: Flow Galindez and Adrian Benipayo

***from the iBlog website iblogph.org 

SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLAND Summer Youth Camp 2014

I'm sure Survicor fans out there will love this.

This summer, prepare to OUTWIT, OUTPLAY, and OUTLAST as Camp Kabataan brings you SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLAND Summer Youth Camp 2014! 

For four days, (April 22-25, Tuesday-Friday), more than a thousand young people from all over the Philippines will be marooned, abandoned, left to fend for themselves, living at the Mt. Peniel Campsite in O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.

If you think you're up for this adventure, register now at LifeHouse Youth on Sundays, 12:30PM at the UG (Upper Ground) Level, Gold Function Room of F1 Hotel Manila, 32nd St, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (near St. Luke's Global and in front of S&R).\


Camp Fee is PhP 600, inclusive of the round-trip transportation (air-conditioned bus), the 4-day 3-night accommodations (dormitories), meals from Tuesday evening to Friday morning, training materials, and accident insurance (if you register before the Camp Orientation).

Young people below 18 years old must secure their parent's consent form and have them signed by either a parent or a guardian. Parent's consent forms are also available at LifeHouse Youth.

Important Notes:
***We will not allow delegates below 18 to join our Summer Youth Camp without a verified parent's permit form.

Deadline for registration and payment is at the Summer Youth Camp 2014 Orientation this coming April 20, 2014 (Sunday) 12:30 PM at LifeHouse Youth (see above address).

Delegates are required to attend our Camp Orientation as campers will be briefed with information they need (e.g., what to bring etc.) for this year's camp.

For more info, comment on this post or contact me at (0915) 903 7243. See you there, Survivors!

Venturing To Another Somewhat Uncharted Territory

This morning, I started my first "official" work at an international financial institution that i'm not going to mention for confidentiality's sake.

It's great to be back in the corporate world after more than a year of missing it. For those of you who doesn't know, I underwent a 6-month, full-time intensive internship with a global technology innovation company back in 2011.

The job seems challenging, but what do i know? This is another somewhat uncharted territory waiting to be conquered, right? :D

Mpre posts to come real soon.

Thanks for your loyalty!
Rege

Farewell, Sir Tito...

IN PACE REQUIESCAT

RESTITUTO "SIR TITO" DELA CRUZ

1950 - 2013

To my High School teacher who taught me the difference between Pegasus and that pesky insect... 

To the teacher whom I've impersonated once in a class activity and to the teacher who never got tired of ferrying students and teachers to and fro FBHS in his humble Jeep... 

I salute you Sir Tito!

My apologies to my dear readers if my latest post in three months is about another loss. 

One of my beloved aunts passed away last night and I am just consumed with grief to even update this blog.

Again, my apologies. Expect a follow-up post within the week.

Thank you so much,
Rege   

In Pace Requiescat Tia...

IN PACE REQUIESCAT

NORIETA ABAINZA VALCARCEL

1959 - 2013

To the aunt that taught me a lot of the things I know... 
To the aunt who was always there and helped me grow... 
To the aunt we dearly love... 
To the aunt sent from above...

We love you so  much Auntie Norie!

Requiscat In Pace, JC...

IN PACE REQUISCAT

JERARD CHRISTIAN "JC" CRUZ


I was at a meeting last night when I learned of the news that one of the most jovial persons I know passed away.

JC was a Multi-media Arts student , while I was a Business Management student. I can't think of anything we have in common except we study in the same school and we are active in our student organizations.

He introduced me to "The Vampire Diaries", and the show got me hooked.

Our frequent meetings at the Student Activities Office Lounge and most recently, the Publications Office got me more acquainted with him.

He's got a lot of dreams. He's a very diligent student and is very good at what he does.

I pray that God would comfort his family in this trying time.

Thanks for making me smile and laugh. Thanks for all the memories. 

You are gone too soon and you will surely be missed... Farewell JC... 

#fwdPH

Philippines' Social Media Weekend 2013's theme is #fwdPH. Read this article to learn why.

*lifted verbatim from tweetupmnl.com

See you on June 29-30 for Social Media Weekend in PH!

This 2013, the Philippines celebrates Social Media Day in a different way.

Events get underway a day early, on June 29, when netizens from Metro Manila hold a big meetup at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, the country’s financial capital. The fun continues on June 30 with meetups in Baguio, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Davao and other cities Thus, a Social Media Weekend across these amazing islands.

This year, too, we are taking the theme “Let’s move #fwdPH”.

More than a century ago, a young man who grew up selling paper fans, educated himself by reading books and later worked as a bodegero rallied the nation with his call “Sugod, mga kapatid!”. In our own little way and as a tribute to dim and those who responded to his battlecry, we say today “Let’s move #fwdPH”.

It is a call on all Pinoy netizens to use social media for social good, and to maximize our personal and collective social media capital for social change. We have done it before and we must do it again and again – not just because we can, but because we must.

“Let’s move #fwdPH” means being a good citizen both online and offline. Being responsible. Being vocal. Taking a stand on issues. Exposing corruption and incompetence. Making politics work for the country, especially the voiceless, poor and marginalized. And using social media to help achieve these.

“Let’s move #fwdPH” means making #ReliefPH and #RescuePH our permanent personal pledge and national movement. Perhaps no better way is there to show the power of our use of social media than when our people need in the most – during disasters.

“Let’s move #fwdPH” means supporting entrepreneurs and developers, community managers and strategists, programmers and artists – especially those who have taken their space in the expanding social media landscape. Just imagine how much more opportunities we could create for community and country.

“Let’s move #fwdPH” means taking action to improve Internet service quality, to bridge the digital divide, to support moves to connect all provinces, cities, towns and villages to the web using high-speed, reliable Internet. And to keep Internet free, our privacy intact, and our rights respected. Citizens of the world’s social media capital deserve, no less.

“Let’s move #fwdPH” means bridging gaps using social media. Rich and poor. City and countryside. Those of us in the homeland and the millions living and toiling abroad. Veterans and newbies. Offline and online. And we do so by forming communities and together never giving up on our personal and collective needs, wants, and hopes.

We may have many differences – gender, faith, politics, color, region, language, class and others – but we share two common things: Boundless hope in the future and a belief that we can only rely on ourselves to move our country forward. And so we say “Let’s move #fwdPH”.

And so we say proudly and clearly this Social Media Weekend, “Let’s move #fwdPH”.

Your Social Media Weekend 2013 Invitation

*lifted verbatim from tweetupmnl.com

Dear fellow netizens,

We are happy to invite you and your friends to join the #SocialMediaWeekend event on June 29, Saturday at the New Glorietta Activity Center, Makati City. Admission is free.

Our #SocialMediaWeekend carries the theme “Let’s move #fwdPH” – a call to spread positive vibes across the country and make social media a tool for social good, more opportunities and doing great things for communities and country.

Highlights include:

Pre-Program (11am-3pm): On YouTube (Hadi Othman, Google SG) | On Google Ads (Denise Luchangco, Google PH) | On BlogWatch, EpalWatch and Citizen Media (Noemi Dado and Jane Uymatiao) | reps. from Mommy Mundo and Google Developers Group

Main Program (4-7pm): Video messages from Bianca Consunji, Pete Cashmore and the Black Pencil Project |  Jen Horn (Global Shapers) | Chinie Diaz (Fab After 40) | Ed Calaycay (IGersManila) | Chelle Gray (Google Plus) | Marideth Talusan (Ricefield Collective) | Ros Juan and Tonyo Cruz (TweetUpMNL and #RescuePH)

With performances by RomCom

This event supports the Black Pencil Project, which helps school kids in far-flung areas.

Helping make this event possible are Ayala Malls, Globe Tattoo, Google for Entrepreneurs, Google Business Groups, Oishi, Zomato, Full Suite, Mili, Team Manila, InstaPrint, Crumpler, Commune, Binalot and others.

Visit http://tweetupmnl.com, follow @TweetUpMNL on Twitter, like TweetUpMNL on Facebook to get more information.

#SocialMediaWeekend events continue on June 30 with simultaneous meetups in Quezon City, Baguio, Dagupan, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Bukidnon and Davao.

Thanks and hope to see you!

Ros, Tonyo, Raffy and the rest of the TweetUpMNL team