Impromptu Karaoke at Timezone Trinoma

Video clips by FOSSyFrancis and Myra. Composite by FOSSyFrancis.

It was a night of food, songs, fun and laughter. After meeting up for a pasta-filled dinner at Avenetto (loved that pesto pasta, really!) in the new Ayala Trinoma in Quezon City, we decided to explore the interiors and floors of the new mall and landed straight at Timezone, a game center/fun house at the top floor.

It was almost 11:00PM and we rushed to the karaoke booth to wind up and the rest you see here in this video. Well, not all though... this is the editor's cut. The uncut versions are still in my mobile phone.

Song after song after song, we laughed, giggled, clapped and went wild. Diane do have a great voice, tremolo and all; Myra was more on a relaxed and comical mood; and yours truly... hmmm... a one-in-a-million whatever.

We were supposed to sing more songs but it was time to go. Closing time, that is. Awww shucks! We will return and try to get the rest of the AS2-Pilipinas gang with us.

Oh, by the way, it did not end there. We did a last-minute drive to Tomas Morato to get a warm cup of green tea latte at Bang's and lazed around until around 1:00AM. It was a great evening with friends. They're really one in a million! That includes YOU! Enjoy the show!

Off-topic: There is this cool, nerdy YouTube video for those techies unrequited love complete with those techie jargon and all. Check on "LUV TWO POINT OH (the key)". Funny but real!

Birthday Wishes for a Motherly Friend

Today marks the 31st birthday of my (and of many) dearest friend Yolynne Medina!

What else can I say? Yolynne is a personification of strength, faith and resolve who truly deserves the best of everything in life. No matter what, her unwavering faith and selflessness will surely be rewarded in God's will.

Let me share this:

"Happiness is a very subjective factor in one's life. Being happy doesn't depend on achieving what you want, but rather making the best out of what is given. Life isn't fair, it never is. The only thing that can make you completely happy is CONTENTMENT. Be contented with what you have, but be sure to aim high and never stop believing you can do better anytime, everytime. But if all else fails, always remember you are not alone."

Again, my motherly friend Yolynne, here's wishing you all the good health and to your family, a strong togetherness. We miss you back here in Manila. But as what I always say to the rest, you will be in spirit, wherever... whenever.

A CONTENTED BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

See you soon here in Manila. With love and care always.

AsiaSource 2 in Malaysia

Photos courtesy of Sam Hui and Al Rodriguez. Collage by FOSSyFrancis.

AsiaSource 2 people have been going places and popping out and meeting up around the world since Sukabumi, Indonesia. After meeting some of them in the Philippines, now we find ourselves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The OSHCA 2007 Conference held last 8 to11 May 2007 brought in over 100 delegates from different parts of the world to discuss on healthcare FOSS interoperability. It was here that UNDP-IOSN ASEAN+3 together with InWEnt of Germany have sponsored 20 talented FOSS developers from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam to participate in the conference and to attend a developers' training workshop.

It was another chance in everyone's lifetime as AS2 veterans aka "FOSSerans"(just thought of that word instantaneously) had a brief yet wonderful reunion with generous hosts Sam Hui, Jaya Kumar, and Gayathry (she begged off due to chicken pox).

There to share a gastronomic fiesta at the Nan/Tanduri place near TMC Bangsar, a quick stroll through the expat pubs and foot reflexology spas of Bangsar Village, and at the Nirwana Mamak Shop's masala and ginger tea were Foaud Bajwa, Ravindra da Silva, Nelia Victolero and yours truly. Olivia Dwi Ayu, Truong Anh Tuan was not able to join us, though. Also, Marvin Pascual was still coming in the following day. But we had them with us in pure FOSS spirit.

It was a night to remember for all as the group trooped to the famed Petronas Twin Towers at the KLCC and did not waste precious time capturing those moments of awe, friendship and togetherness. It was almost midnight when we reached the towers to marvel at its nocturnally-illuminated splendor. The golden reflection of the Public Bank at its front was also as captivating. Oohs, ahhs, hey and wows were all we can say!

Indeed, the AS2 spirit and pulse will continue to grow, glow and go (places)!

More of this in Sam's blog at http://smoothriver.net/blog/2007/05/10/kl-night-out/#more-500

AsiaSource2 Track 4 Final Presentation

Finally, it's here!

Thanks so much to Elanto for sending this long-awaited video clip of Track 4's final presentantion. And to Olivia for bringing it to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during the OSHCA 2007 Conference. Terima kasih!

Directed by the creative genius Sam Hui, camera by Elanto and starring the dynamic actors/actresses of Track 4.

The video says it all.

Ladies and gentlemen, Track 4 in its finest moments!

More production details on the video clip at Mifan's blog at http://techmania.wordpress.com/ - Track 4 glory at AsiaSource II

Sure it's getting more fun here!

AS2-Pilipinas Welcomes SAHANA in Manila

Photos courtesy of Pretchie Obja-an. Collage by FOSSyFrancis.

Headed by Track 4 Facilitator Bobby Soriano, AS2-Pilipinas hosted a dinner for SAHANA's Mifan Careem and Ravindra da Silva with lovely wife Mathisha. It was an eat-all-you-can evening last 25 April 2007 in all-Filipino Cabalen Restaurant in Metro Manila's central business district of Makati City.

The group includes Trixie, Cheekay, Joanna, Pretchie, Dianne, Myra, Magie, Jerome and yours truly. Not present were Joyce, Bangge, and Evelyn. Dr. Alvin, however, have met with the SAHANA guys earlier that day. Nelia, Ela and Yolynne are in southern Philippines but have extended their regards as well.

As our token of recognition and appreciation for all of SAHANA's efforts, we presented Mifan and Ravindra with the famous Philippine jeepney die-cast models and a bouquet of flowers for Mathisha.

After the dinner, the rest proceeded to the popular Baywalk area of Manila where the group enjoyed outdoor bands, mime performers, and late night coffee near the sea. Track 5 stories again re-surfaced and brought back memories and laughs among us all.

The following day, Bobby and I brought Mifan, Ravindra and Mathisha for a Jolibee breakfast with Joanna, Dianne and Magie then later did last-minute bargain shopping and a refreshing stop at the Promenade both in the Greenhills Shopping Center.

It was indeed fun to meet again and welcome fellow AS2 participants in our country and extend the warm Filipino hospitality.

To the SAHANA guys, MABUHAY and see you again soon! Thank you for visiting our country.

Circles of SAHANA

As usual, I was up till the wee hours of the morning in preparation for an IOSN booth display for a local Rotary District Convention on March 23 to 24, 2007. In addition to an IOSN showcase, Bobby and I have planned for a SAHANA multimedia display and an Ubuntu demonstration.

Part of the preparation is for me to make ID pins that we will wear during the event. As shown above, the pin at the left uppermost corner is the one I had made to be worn. Then, an idea struck me!

As we all know, the sunflower is used in the SAHANA website, which I find, on my opinion, a fitting symbol of the SAHANA FOSS Disaster Management System, because for me the sunflower symbolizes hope and a new beginning. According to the FTD website, a sunflower's meaning differs from culture to culture. To some, the sunflower promises power, warmth, and nourishment — all the attributes of the sun itself. The Chinese hold the sunflower as a symbol of longevity. The sunflower is also often used as a symbol of green ideology.

Then as if a stroke of pure inspiration, I ended up doing several pin designs. What I thought of was combining the sunflower and different calamities as a background. It was actually a creative contrast of disaster and hope. I came up with several pin series: tsunami, typhoon, landslides, and volcanic eruptions. Ooops! My mind skipped earthquakes. Well, I still have time to make some.

It sure is cool to wear them all and show that amidst calamities - natural or man-made - hope brought by SAHANA leads to new beginnings. By the way, the word "sahana" means relief.

Asia Source II in the Fourth Estate

Scanned magazine article courtesy of Oni Budipramono.
Collage and additional details by FOSSyFrancis.

The press have been always a critical component in the information dissemination about events, places, and people.

A handful of the Asia Source II participants have written in our mailing list that articles about the event have been published in magazines and newspapers in their respective countries. I have a few online links here from CIO India and KOMPAS Cybermedia and a lot of blog entries from the participants.

I wish to thank Oni Budipramono for this article. I may not understand the contents, which is in Indonesian, but I know for sure that Asia Source II have been once again, in this form, have been immortalized.

Note: For those others who have submitted articles for local publication, please send scanned files of the articles and send them to my personal e-mail.