The Launch of Google's Manila Office

The Philippine Google Student Ambassadors
Back (L-R): Kriz Toff, Jyle Sulit, Patric Sugay, JM Basa, Mikee Villegas, Pat Chengliong
Front (L-R): David Ramos,  Kirk Jamison, Mafe Ortego, Queenie Reyes, Johan Aguilar

Wednesday, January 23rd Google officially launches its Manila office.

Click read more to read more and see more photos!!

Teach Me How to Present

NOTE: Throughout the blog, you will see hot pink and blue text. They are clickable links.

Last November 23, my fellow Google Student Ambassador Pat Chengliong and I gave a talk on Google products students can use when making presentations. We focused on two core products: Google Docs: Presentation and Youtube. We also took the opportunity to talk about the Free and Open Web Campaign.

Instagram photo by Rhozabel Rivadeneira

CLICK:

Geek Girl Manila Meetup

One of the great things I love about being a Google Student Ambassador is that I'm constantly learning new things in the world of technology. Take the word "developer" for example. In lay mans terms, this can be someone who develops something. In the technological world, this is probably a common word for someone who is making the applications ("apps" as we call it) in the devices we are using.

Last October 2012 (yes, it's been a while), Google had its 1st Geek Girl Manila MeetUp at the Globe Telecom Showroom in Makati. I was a little bit nervous going into the event because I didn't know anyone who was going to be there, with the exception of the some Google people I met in Singapore and g|Philippines.

Once I stepped past the automatic opaque sliding glass doors, the first thing I found was a room filled with tables embellished with sequined cloth of bright azure and hot pink colors, and chairs with big tulle (if I remember right) ribbons. The one thing I definitely didn't miss was all the women in the room. It was 95%

Women of Character

Hello again :) It's been over a month since I've blogged with all the work I've been doing for school. But I'm not gonna let 12.12.12 pass without an entry! (haha parang high school journal entry lang eh)

Anywaaays, I spent this day back at my high school alma matter. Today was the beginning of a series of talks on college and career for the juniors and seniors. Together with Inha Arceo, we talked about our current colleges now - admissions, academics, university culture, college adjustment, and the like. I go to the green school and she goes to the blue school. Oooh! Imagine how fun that was (in a good way of course). It was also great to see Inha again and to see that our dynamic duo was back in action after two years! (She was the President while I was the Vice-President of our student council back in our senior year).

Click "read more" below to see more photos and read more about today's experience!

One Million Lights

Back in high school, my friend named Tricia Peralta told me about this organization she was working on with Mark Lozano. Now, it's this big thing wherein they've helped so many people in our country already. You can read more about them and see what they're doing on their Facebook page

Mark called me one day asking me if I wanted to volunteer as the photobooth photographer in their project before Christmas called Parol for a Cause. After being able to volunteer before in the Philippine Model Congress, I wanted to give it another try and learn. Plus, I really wanted to volunteer by making a parol beforehand, so being able to help in another way was a bonus!

The function room of St. James the Great Parish was slowly being filled by volunteers of many ages but mostly they were the youth. It was great seeing many people my age and even younger coming together towards a cause!

 Christmas music was playing in the background with Taylor Swift songs coming here and there. Also, a band played and their original music was great!

 I also got to use many photography equipment that I didn't get to before such as the lights that point to the backdrop, this thing called the slave light if I got that right, and I learned a few new things about the settings of my camera. One day, when I get really good at it, maybe I'll blog about it. But now, let the professionals and the fanatics do it :)

with Mark Lozano

In this entry were some of the photos I took which were postprocessed by Chris Yuhico. The ones where I'm in, Chris took those.

It was a long day filled with many new experiences! I will definitely want to volunteer with OML again and you should too! :) Let's support this great organization!

You can check out the rest of the photobooth pictures here.

g|Philippines

Today's been such a coffee/ cuddle weather with the rain pouring all day and the sweet cool breeze blowing against our faces. I'm supposed to be reading 26 court cases right now for my Personal Effectiveness 2 class OR I'm supposed to be in a road trip right now with friends but physically, it's really not possible to finish all these readings during the road trip. I really miss hanging out with my friends. A road trip sounded really good. Plus, there's a typhoon right now.. but instead of reading the court cases, I feel like blogging. This shouldn't take long. Let's talk about G|Philippines (in short for Google Philippines).

Future Faces

Growing up, I've always been constantly been reminded of the importance of education. Teachers would tell us to cherish the education our parents are paying for because not everyone gets to enjoy their right to be in a classroom, to do school-related activities, to sit in a classroom and listen to teachers, and all the other things we do in school; not everyone gets the same quality education we are getting in our private schools. 

My parents would also remind me of the importance of prayer, studying, making the most of my time through time management, and the list goes on but I put emphasis on studying.

Five years ago, all these led to me having this great belief that education is the key to a progressive future. 

Our generation and the generations to come are the future leaders of our country. Imagine having more leaders who make educated decisions. Imagine the course our country would be taking. Imagine more laws and programs being made that would progress our country. Imagine more corporate social responsibility present. Imagine that wonderful future you dream of concretized. Imagine a just and free society. All these imaginations can someday be a reality. I really think one way is through education. 

Education is important because it sharpens a person’s mind and character. We learn lessons we need in life (although there are still some that I don't understand why we have to study haha). Kidding aside, it is through education that we can actualize the potentials of the Filipino people. We mold their minds, their hearts, their character. We teach them the sense of patriotism to be of service to the Filipino people. We teach them to be Lasallian achievers for God and country.

Last August, I had the privilege of helping a charity called Future Faces Manila Foundation. The foundation aims to "maximize educational opportunity for children from low-income families by offering them tuition assistance to attend colleges and universities in the Philippines." They had their 2^nd annual fundraising activity called Heartisty 2 where they had a fashion show and I got check two things off my Things to do before I reach 20 list (haha yeaaa I have a list) which I made five years ago because of it: 

1. To help out in a non-profit organization specifically one that does something about education and 

2. Walk on a runway in a fashion show.  

The event was held at the Rockwell Tent last August 10, 2012.

Photo credits to Served Fresh
The show was hosted by Chris Tiu and Alex Gonzaga (both in white).
And that's the Chief Executive Officer of Future Faces Manila, Winnie Wong (in red)