The 1st Google Student Leader's Summit PH

At 8:00 in the morning of the 27th of April 2013, I eagerly went up the elevator of the JVC Building in Aguirre street in Makati City. I remember being enthralled by the buttons of the elevator because you see that they were kind of from years back because of their design - white, plastic, and opaque and the whole button lights up when you click them. But when the elevator bell buzzed to signal I was in the 3rd floor (the Orange and Bronze Inc. offices), I immediately snapped out of my enthrallment. As the door opened, the voices of chit chat slowly filled in the elevator. 

As I stepped out, I was greeted by the light gray carpet and fifty (50) student leaders from across the metro talking to one another. Some were seated on the couch, some were on the coffee table chairs, and the others looking out the window. There were some familiar faces from the university where I come from and we said hi. Right after, I saw the other Google Student Ambassadors - Ryan Caro (who spearheaded this event), Kirk Jamison, and Kriztoff Dela Cruz. We were also greeted by our new friends from Orange and Bronze Inc.

Click "read more" to know more about what happened and to see more photos!

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!

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).

Google Student Ambassador Summit: Day 2

Hello! :) So, day 2! Let's go!

The second day was generally learning more about Google and their different products and services. One of the first things we learned was about the culture at Google. As you will see in the next few photos, it's pretty chill, casual, colorful yet simple. The environment makes you want to match up to its creativity and simplicity which I think is important when you're talking about Google. 

If it's one of the few things that come into mind when I think about Google besides it being worldwide, big-time, and "Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.", it's that it's all about creativity and simplicity. Don't you feel that when you're using your gMail or Youtube? It's easy to use. :) 

Anyways, that definitely wasn't the perfect explanation of the culture but I just wanted to share what I felt and what I picked up from the talk and my stay there. Definitely, there's a lot more I'll learn throughout this whole year and there's a great possibility that I'll share it with you guys in the future.

Treats table :) 

Google Student Ambassador Summit: Day 1

Taking risks is definitely one of the most rewarding things EVER. ..so far

It all started with an application that one day of March 2012. I sent in my application to this Google Student Ambassador program not knowing what the outcome would be. It was those things I didn't tell anyone until I found out the outcome. When May arrived, 120 students from across Southeast Asia got emails telling them they were selected to be the Google Student Ambassadors for Southeast Asia for school year 2012-2013. 

There was one thing really risky for me though. We had to attend a summit in Singapore for three days. The opportunity cost of going to Singapore would be missing classes and having to catch up in missed lessons and take make-up exams. The no-brainer decision, the experiences and lessons I will have and learn, plus the people I would meet in Singapore would definitely over power the norm of going to school. But also, if Google told you they were paying for your airplane rides, hotel accommodation, and all your meals, wouldn't you say YES immediately too? :))

The Filipino Google Student Ambassadors first time to assemble as a group.