President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: Up Close and Personal

They say when it rains, it pours. Just a few days ago, I received the most beautiful news that I made it as a registered nurse in one of the most difficult exams ever given by the PRC-Board of Nursing. I was in cloud nine with my joy and happiness. And Yesterday I had the honor of meeting our president during her visit here in Davao City for Cybercorridor Tour at Concentrix, Damosa IT Park, Lanang, Davao City.

Busy. Documenting the event.

My work with ICT Davao, Inc. has indeed brought me to places. I had the honor and privilege of meeting practically the who’s who in the IT Industry not only here in Davao City but on the national level as well. My horizon has certainly broaden, and my experiences enriched.

So when the news of Pres. Arroyo meeting with the officers of ICT Davao came, I was excited and at the same time nervous.

GMA visited key outsourcing destinations (to include, Davao City as one of the next wave big cities) and met up with ICT stakeholders and media partners. She highlighted the achievements of her administration in terms of building digital infrastructure and encouraging the blossoming of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. There were 2,000 jobs when she assumed her presidency in the BPO industry but now it has 500,000.

Picture taking. With ICT Treasure, Mrs. Nelly Sia Agabin, Project Administrator, Irene Ansaldo and ICAD’s Yvonne Cabada

The President also wanted to continue to reach out to the youth, who are the country’s future and employees of the BPO industry. According to her, ICT is the home of young individuals.

She also said on her speech, with her administration’s incentives to IT companies, internet cost went down to only a single digit and users have ballooned to 25 million. Almost 4,000 public schools have been connected to the internet.

There might be people who do not like PGMA, but I certainly respect the office that she held. She is certainly a power lady in every sense of the word. Gracious and dignified, knowing very well that most guests were famished from waiting, she dispensed the program and had the dinner served immediately.

Always a working president, she was busy meeting different personalities while having her dinner. And to think I was just seated a table apart from her. Everybody was left with a good impression of the president. She certainly has a way of making everyone feel welcome.

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Finally! Registered Nurse na jud ko!

Nursing Jan 31 2010

Finally, I made it! I’m now a Registered Nurse! I passed the Nurses Licensure Examination (Nursing Board Exam) last November 29 and 30, 2009.

Great is our Lord! Worthy of all praises! Thanks offering bring to Him for He granted me a passing rate, of a license- to grow, to change. Thank you so much Lord! My gratitude is beyond words.

Thank you for my parents (Mama, Papa), Kuya, Tito Davy, Uncle Doming, Auntie Fely, Mommy Letty and relatives who in spite of the hardships in their life worked hard just to send me to school and helped me achieve my dreams and give me inspiration in time of difficulties.

Thank you also for all my mentors (class and clinical instrutors) who molded me to become what I am today guiding in my journey towards attainment of my goals in life.

As a newly Registered Nurse, I appreciate and much acknowledge what they impart on me and more importantly the love, trust and care that gave me encouragement and inculcated in my mind the way I want to be and become.

I would like also to congratulate my friends! Jennalie Love Tongco (AdDU), Shang Yap (AdDU), Jesreal Pilar (DDC), Eugene Barilla (DDC) and Genevieve Yson (CdK). Congratulations and may each one blessed and find happiness in the field one may endeavor. Good luck and God bless!

This marks as a new beginning, a new concept of being responsible. I know, this does not mean goodbye to school, teachers, friends and assignments but it’s more of a till then for life begins here. There is still a whole lot of life’s unknowns out there waiting to be discovered.

- RICHARD V. DIONGSON, BSN RN

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Real Leaf Paparazzi

Janice is a preppy young executive assistant to CEO of one of the top Medical Transcription Schools in the Philippines. She recently graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her work can sometimes be very stressful due to the nature and demand of her work. Yet Janice still finds time to go out and mingle with her co-employees.

Janice lives with the motto “To be young and beautiful”. She is conscious not only of her body but of her mental health as well. She has googled that green tea is actually very good for the body. Green tea, she learned, is a very powerful anti-oxidant that can actually rejuvenate one’s body as it cleans. The problem with Janice is that she doesn’t like the taste of traditional green tea. She tried adding sugar and ice cubes, still her taste buds don’t agree with the taste.

Good thing that while doing her weekly shopping at the supermarket, she discovered Real Leaf Green Tea. The taste is just wonderful but with a certain tinge of sweetness that is natural. She’s been hooked ever since.

Even at work she never forgets to bring a bottle or two of Real Leaf Green Tea. All the stress brought about by her work would simply fade away after a relaxing drink of Real Leaf Green Tea. When friends ask her what is her secret why she seems composed and stress-free after a hard day’s work, she would gladly tell them about Real Leaf Green Tea.

Now all her friends at work take Real Leaf Green Tea. Their boss has noticed that their work has dramatically improved. With Real Leaf Green Tea, Janice and her co-workers may soon get their desired bonus earlier than expected.

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IDI Core Values Formation Workshop Part I Held

After a sumptuous lunch served by the very hospitable staff of Villa Margarita Hotel. ICT Davao, Inc. conducted the first part of its Core Values Workshop conducted by Australian trained Resource Person, Ms. Milalin Javellana. In attendance were the executive officers of ICT Davao, Inc. led by our hardworking President, Ms. Wit Holganza.

Milay Javellana, our Resource Speaker of Coffey International Development gave the workshop not only on the corporate perspective but on personal and familial level also. All the corporate members under the umbrella organization of ICT Davao, Inc. came in full force to learn in the workshop in view of re-echoing the same to their members and other officers.

We thanked profusely Milay Javellana for giving the seminar-workshop “pro bono”. Afterwards, there was the awarding of certificate of attendance and appreciation with Ms. Wit Holganza, Ms. Milay and the coordinator for the event Mr. Vic Calag.

Everybody is looking forward for the part two at the workshop to be held again at Villa Margarita, which I should commend for their excellent service and very delicious food.

Youth goes Info Tech! -Updated

Fifty Out-of-School Youth aged 18-24 years old of Davao City has received a 22-hour free training on Computer Literacy Program of the Kabataan Information Technology Opportunities (K-ITO) last December 27-29, 2009 and January 11-16, 2010 at MTC Academy, E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City.

KITO Mentors and Students Batch 1

Kabataan Technology Opportunities (K-ITO) is an out of school youth learning and earning program in collaboration of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region XI and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Davao, Incorporated, the umbrella organization of all IT groups hosted by Davao City as the private sector partner for this project.

My Co-mentors at MTC Academy (K-ITO venue)- Jobelle, Jesreal, Tena, Paolo, Renz and Audrey

The program used a module consists of 4 lessons such as familiarization of the computer hardware, basic Microsoft office utilities such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Powerpoint, understanding and uses of the Internet for info-research and communication.

Ten IT-literate unemployed youth volunteers served as mentors to spear in educating out-of-school youth and other disadvantaged youth. The ratio for mentor and student is 1:2 to achieve quality ICT literacy training. Mentors spent a total of 22 hours and received a modest 25 pesos per hour stipend for fare and food.

YOUTH IN ACTION. KITO Volunteers bridging the digital divide

Kabataan ITO seeks to establish a mentor-mentee relationship. This is in response to the EO 788- “Promoting a Youth National Service”, initiating a new era of volunteerism, community spirit and requiring agencies to develop relevant programs for the youth issued by the President on March 30, 2009; DOLE is implementing an earning and learning project through which the IT-literate unemployed youth shall be tapped in improving IT literacy among the out-of-school youth and other disadvantaged youth through free mentoring sessions and in bringing the government closer to the people through free, supervised internet access to online government programs and services.

Phase II of the program will start this January 25 at PhilNITS Training Center which is the Social Networking Skills Development Project where best performers from the initial batch of 50 Out of School Youth will become the recipients.

This is a barangay IT enabling project of ICT Davao Inc. (IDI) thru a grant funding received from JICA – Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Program (DICCEP) and will be implemented on the same month. The lead team that will help implement this project is the Davao Software Industry Inc. (DSII) one of the members of ICT Davao Inc. Social Networking Skills Development Project aims to promote private and public ICT initiatives through the Barangay by extending ICT literacy for the out-of-school youth.

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K-iTO mentors, spotted at Gaisano South’s arcade after the morning session

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Fruit bearing Durian Trees

Green grasses now turned yellow after last month round up spray, a one and one fourth hectare land located at our Barrio you could find just a few minutes from Kidapawan is our land area planted with different varieties of Durian- now fruit bearing trees

I can proudly say, it is an example of a well planned, properly maintained and a haven to a wonderful selection and luscious Durian you can’t just ignore. Going through the trees gives me the impression of how lucky I am. It is not just refreshing to the eyes, it also manifest my family’s hard work without others help. Thus, should be of no surprise. Here are some of our durian plants:

Chanee- this cultivar is an introduction from Thailand. This fruit is ovoid with a broad, obtuse tip and weighs from 2 to 4 kilograms. The flesh is thick, golden yellow, sweet and has mild aroma. The edible portion is 32 percent.

Puyat- this local fruit cultivar is big and cylindrical, weighing about 2 to 4 kilograms. The flesh is chrome yellow, firm, soft, buttery, and has mild aroma. The edible portion is 40 percent.

GD 69- the fruit of this local cultivars is obviate and large, weighing 3 to 4 kilograms. The flesh is yellow, sweet, firm, and has mild aroma. The edible portion is 45 percent.

Monthong- known as golden pillow, this cultivar is also from Thailand, weighing 2 to 5 kilograms. The fruit is slightly elongated with a pointed tip. The flesh is thick, golden yellow, sweet and has mild aroma. The edible portion is 30 percent. There are many options of Durian fruit you will enjoy for its aroma, sweetness and undeniably very tasty.

Bunny is having a date with the stork

I have this pet rabbit whom I named Bunny. Yes, I know it’s redundant. It is white with big ears just like any other rabbit. Being herbivore, it’s quite easy to feed it with grasses and left over vegetables.

The good thing about rabbit is that unlike dogs they are quiet yet could get aggressive at times. I learned later on that rabbits are not really aggressive but very timid. That is why they appear aggressive when in fact they are cuddly creatures.

Bunny is about to give birth to her litter. I find it amusing when I noticed that she even used her own hair to prepare for her litter. There is a sense of maternal instinct that even rabbits possessed. I am very excited to see the litter of Bunny. After around 28 days of gestation, she finally have her date with the stork.

Chivaz is the fortunate partner of Bunny. I never saw them fight over food like we see with cats and dogs. Chivaz appears to be a very attentive partner.

To all of you who wants to have rabbits as pet, I encouraged you to just prepare a clean cage and a fresh supply of water daily. The rest is just to feed them with grasses or vegies.