GenSan News Online Mag

Read the first of this 3-part series of Bariles’ adventures in Singapore for the Google Geo User Summit by clicking this —> Google Geo User Summit Singapore, Day 0.

DAY 1.

The Fat and Fab Brothers Bariles and Orman (or Ganda Ever in the blogosphere) woke up early before 7am at their room at the Hard Rock Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa.  It was still dark outside their window, much like how it looks in the Philippines at 5am but the view of the world outside pointed to an already busy nation.

It was to be the first day of the conference proper of the Asia-Pacific Google Geo Users Summit where they were participants along with 7 other Filipinos.

Still drowsy, still they had to be at the STARZ Restaurant at the lobby of their hotel for breakfast before 8am and so, they immediately showered, one fat sleepy man after the other.

Starz Restaurant was already teeming with people of all ages and nationality!  A long table on the left side offered all the imaginable breakfast you can eat!  There was Western, Malay, Chinese, Indian and Japanese breakfast fare for just about everyone!

Bariles was on a diet and so to solve his predicament, took and ate a little of everything.  He most especially liked the Indian wrap called pita which he dipped in two kinds curry-like sauce.  Lovely!

While eating, a Summit participant approached him and asked permission to have his picture taken with him.  He liked the shirt that Bariles was wearing which bore the words: YouTube MySpace and I’ll Google Your Yahoo.  All throughout the day, strangers stopped on their tracks to praise him for his shirt and  ask where he bought it.

After breakfast, the brothers and some Pinoys who shared their table like Allan Paolo Medrano, Chamba Kayman and Lakan Bautista immediately went down for the summit proper at the Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre.

MORNING SESSIONS.

There, they and the other members of Team Philippines settled near each other as Day 1 of the Google Geo-User Summit unfolded.

First a Summit overview and introductions were given by Geo Community Leaders Jessica Pfund (Map Maker Community), Nicole Drobeck (3D Community), and Gerald Sanz (Photo/Panoramio Community Manager).

Google Geo Big Boss James Therrein was next.  He explained to everyone why Asia is so important to Google – it is the largest growing area in the world in terms of internet use and usage of their products (not just in the major countries like Japan, Korea and China).  From him, the brothers found out their web browser Google Chrome is now number #1 in the Philippines!

Although Asia still trails the Western hemisphere in terms of infrastructure, MOBILE will change the world in Asia, he continued. Mobile and location service are very important and critical in Asia, he explained.

The first Keynote Speaker was Ed Parsons, a GeoSpatial Technologist who is a Google Geo Evangelist.  He regaled the summit participants with the interesting history of Google and how the company envisions to “organize the world’s infomation and make it universally accessible and useful”.

He also divulged that 30-40% of Google Searches including on laptops, desktops or mobile gadgets, are all looking for directions to or information about various PLACEs in the globe, hence the need to update and tag the world’s maps.

Right now, Google Maps have 100 million users including Application Sites and has more than a hundred thousand developers (map makers, among them).  From him, the attendees also found out that right now, there are “35 billion gadgets and devices connected to the Internet at any given time”.

LUNCH.

So much information load-up that the brothers and all the participants were already hungry when a break was called for the most important meal of the day!

Lunch time was in an adjoining room which had separate buffets for halal and non-halal food.  There was so much to eat that Bariles and Orman tried a little of everything!

Of course, the Team Philippines all seated themselves together and was one noisy and happy bunch.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS.

The first part of the afternoon sessions were reserved for NGO’s, government workers and educators who were tasked to share their experiences with Google Maps.

Up first was Orman’s new friend, US State Department’s Lucas Keene who looks like Hollywood actor James Franco.  He works under the Office of the Geographer in Washington tasked with two divisions.  These are the Office of the Humanitarian Information Unit which is assigned to produce unclassified maps on complex humanitarian emergencies for the US government, international community and the public.

The other division is the Geographic Information Unit whose tasks are: to provide mapping support to the Department of State; serve as USG advisor on sovereignty issues and is the USG authority on international boundaries.

All these of course with the use of Google Map Maker, Panoramio, Google Earth and Google Maps.

He related how thru Map Maker, they were able to assist Pakistan in January 4, 2010 during the Attabad Landslide Lake; how USAID is uses it in their humanitarian works in Libya and other countries needing humanitarian emergencies.

Next Presentor was Saysana Phanalasy a young woman from PSi Laos, a leading non-profit social marketing organization tasked to reduce spread of HIV/AIDS, STIs and malaria in the country.  Since 2010, it has joined the Google Mapping Project led by a certain Bram Pilot to map out the health clinics they work with in the region.

Next Presentor was Team Philippines composed of Google Phils’ Aileen Apolo, FEU-FERN Dean of Computer Science Lakan Bautista and Bariles himself.

Aileen first neatly summarized how the Pinoy mappers have been using the mapping technology when disasters struck the Philippines in 2010, during the National Elections on the same year and how they started organizing mapping parties from Luzon to the island of Mindanao.

Bariles’ presentation was about the Google Mapping and Precinct Mapping Parties that his group of the Soccsksargen Bloggers initiated in General Santos city and their future plans of espousing the use of MapMaker among their citizens.

Lastly,  it was FEU-FERN Dean Lakan Bautista turn to present further how they developed a landing page for those areas in Luzon affected by typhoon Ondoy and how his univesity is looking into incorporating Mapping into their curriculum.

The sessions proceeded with Mapper Stories from participants from India, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan who all related stories of how mapping started in their respective localities and went on to become a valuable tool in relief and disaster operations, for one and in tourism promotion in other aspects.

The exciting afternoon sessions then ended with a presentation from the members of the Google Map Making Community themselves who updated the participants on their activities and plans to further strengthen the use of map maker among its advocates.  They also discussed solutions to the different concerns thrown in by the participants re Map Maker.

Bariles was also videotaped describing his participation in the summit and relating his involvement in the world of Google Geo Users.

Capping off Day 1 of the Geo Community Summit was a fun visit to the Google Headquarters in downtown Singapore.

There,  the participants had an enjoyable time checking out the offices of Google Singapore, their cafeterias and the seemingly inexhaustible free food provided for their staff.

All in all, it was such an excellent way to conclude a definitely awesome day for Bariles and GandaEver in Singapore who have vowed to step up their drive to nurture more Google Geo Mappers in their ranks, whether as members or not of the Soccsksargen Bloggers back home in General Santos City.

Watch out for the 3rd and Final blog post on their Google Geo Users Summit participation plus their visit to the Universal Studios at Sentosa island.  Soon!

Bariles would like to thank the following for making his trip to Singapore possible:  GenSan City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, Wilma Villanueva, Orman Manansala, Aileen Apolo, George S., Patrice S., Connie D. and some other generous souls who would not want to be named.  May God bless you for your generosity!  Terimah kaseh to Google Geo Users Summit for most of the photos above.

General Santos City, the Philippines’ Tuna Capital due to its hosting of the six of the country’s seven tuna canning plants and dozens more of its processing plant is now expanding beyond that distinction beginning Tuesday, August 2, 2011.

Why?

Because on that day, the country’s first salmon-production plant and Asia’s newest and most modern salmon and seafood processing and smoking facility in Asia, carrying the name BIG GLORY BAY SALMON AND SEAFOOD COMPANY, INC. will be inaugurated at Barangay Tambler!

BIG GLORY BAY Salmon and Seafood Company, Inc. is a joint venture of Alliance Select Foods International, Inc. (one of the Philippines’ leading canned tuna manufacturers formerly known as Alliance Tuna Inc.) and Prime Foods New Zealand Ltd. The facility is located inside the Alliance Select Foods International tuna canning plant.

READ: New Zealand-Philippines Joint Venture in expansion mode

It will be producing smoked salmon from New Zealand and Norway, at a capacity of 600 metric tons per year!  These then will be exported all over the world.

Expected to grace the inauguration of this multi-million investment in the city on August 2, 2011, are ASFII President and CEO Jonathan Dee, PFNZL Managing Director Henry Studholme; together with General Santos City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Andrew Matheson and LandBank President and CEO Gilda Pico.

With this development, we can now surely say that, Yes, Virginia, there is more in GenSan beyond Tuna!  And hopefully,  the generals may claim another title for the City by the Bay – that of the emerging “SALMON CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES”!

The Tuna Festival Council composed of new members, led by Ronald Velasquez as Festival Director and comebacking Bebot Haw as Vice Chairman has just released the Tuna Festival 2011 Schedule of Events.

The Tuna Festival 2011 is the 13th incarnation of South Central Mindanao’s most famous week-long celebration and this time, it commemorates General Santos City’s 43rd Charter Anniversary which falls on September 5, 2011.  The Tuna Festival also brings focus on the commodity which made General Santos City known all over as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.”

For this year, the Tuna Festival 2011 schedule of Events supplied to us by Mr. Ronald Velasquez is still not complete and will be updated on a regular basis.  Still it will show you how some of the major events have been lined up this time from August 26 to September 5, 2011.   Take note of the Mr. & Ms. GenSan 2011 activities and the National Tuna Congress, for instance.  (Update:  It is now more or less, complete.)

The theme for the 13th Tuna Festival approved by Festival Chair Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio by the way is “Exploring New Depths, Conquering New Heights”.

Here now is the Tuna Festival 2011 schedule of events, updated August 8, 2011.  Click on the image for a larger, clearer view.

For more information, please visit the Tuna Festival 2011 Secretariat at the 2nd Floor, Gaisano Atrium, Gaisano Mall of GenSan.

Finally,  through the initiative of Congressman Manny Pacquiao and with the support of his new ally, Governor Migs Dominguez, Sarangani Province will finally be having its own tertiary hospital

On August 1, 2011, Monday, the Sarangani Medical Center will break ground at its corner inside the Sarangani Provincial Capitol compound, Alabel, Sarangani Province.

Below is the picture of the Sarangani Medical Center perspective.

The hospital project will have 200 beds and is aiming to be a tertiary level hospital, the first in the Sarangani Province.  Currently, the Sarangani Provincial Government spends hundreds of thousands yearly to pay for the hospitalization and care of its constituents at the General Santos City Hospital and some other private hospitals.

This Sarangani Medical Center will be administered and run through a Public-Private Partnership Agreement and is undertaken under the DBP Credit for Better Health Care Program.

The hospital facility for the Sarangans which has been the subject of speculation in Pacman land for quite sometime, has just become the first in a series of projects of the new Pacquiao-Dominguez tandem.   Hopefully, it will improve more the lives of their constituents, a promise which they have collectively made when they decided to forget political differences and work together as one.

Congratulations Sarangani!!!  You deserve all the best!

Hello faithful readers!

This is Bariles writing in the first person.

Today, I am off to a much-needed rest and recreation in the island of Boracay. It has been a while  since I last visited this island paradise and so I am quite  excited about it although I also feel bad because I will be missing Sun City Suites’ Night Run today.

Pictures:  How People Spend Good Friday in Boracay

This will be my second time there with my fabulously fat brother Orman and hopefully, we will have enough good experiences there to blog about in our common blog which has remained stale or  sometime now, Fat and Fabulous Brothers.

No, it won’t be just us.  My partner, the official photographer of  GenSan News Online Mag is joining us together with another blogger, one of  the very best of the Soccsksargen Bloggers who is now a banker.

I will still try to blog on matters GenSan while there but won’t promise it.  In the first place, it is supposed to be a vacation.  What I surely will do is update my Facebook and Twitter accounts.  If you want to be updated on our shenanigans, follow me on Twitter by CLICKING  HERE.

By the way, will be staying at the world class Estacio Uno Boracay Lifestyle Resort.

For sure, it’s gonna  be a relaxing fun for Bariles and the rest of the gang.  Boracay, watch out!!!

Bariles is coming!

Jollibee has just recently launched its first ever national look-out for five (5) exemplary Filipino families for its Jollibee Family Values Awards!

The Jollibee Family Values Awards aims to celebrate the genuine and irreplaceable joy of the Filipino family.  It will recognize those who exemplify the values that Pinoy families are known for and those who have inspired the community through their deeds.

Nomination is from July 1, 2011 to August 30, 2011.  Anybody could nominate a family whom they admire and think is worthy enough to matter in this nationwide search.  One winning family will be chosen from each of these clusters:  MegaManila, Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Prizes for each of the five winning families are P100,000 cash (tax-free), a trophy and P10,000 worth of gift certificates.

Nomination forms are available at any of the Jollibee outlets all over the country.  In GenSan, these are at Jollibee Pioneer, Jollibee RD Plaza, Jollibee 24/7 Drive-thru National Highway, Jollibee Gaisano, Jollibee KCC and Jollibee Robinsons.  It may also be downloaded at Jollibee’s official website.

Do you know of a family who exemplifies the best of Filipino values in GenSan?  Nominate them now!

It’s still months before AirPhil Express starts its regular flights in General Santos City but GenSan News Online Mag found out today that they have started offering a One-Way Seat Sale!

This is for their Manila-GenSan flights which they have priced at P888 (one-way)!

(POST: AirPhil Express flies to GenSan soon!)

But what’s really interesting is their awesome Online Banner Ad at their Official Website that used “HOME OF CHAMPIONS” to describe General Santos City in promoting the Seat Sale!  Check it out below.

Their blurb goes, “Visit the Home of Champions at a lightweight price.”  That keyword “Home of Champions” is now really identified with General Santos City.

(POSTS OF CHAMPIONS: Manny Pacquiao, Melai Cantiveros, XB GenSan, Philip Nadela, True Colors, Shamcey Supsup)

Anyway, the AirPhil Express Seat Sale of P888 is for one-way flights only from Manila-General Santos City and will be made available for sale from July 19-21, 2011 for flights during the travel period October 28, 2011 to December 15, 2011!

By the way,  you may book your one-way seat sale tickets for the Home of the Champions at AirPhil Express online by clicking here.

The much-awaited and heralded Sun City Suites’ NIGHT FUN RUN finally happens this very Saturday, July 23, 2011 and we are as excited as you are!

And why not?  This is the first time in General Santos City that a marathon occurs in the evening and that is one experience not even veteran runners have actually gone into.

This NIGHT RUN is in celebration of Sun City Suites’ first anniversary and they have teamed with no less than ABS-CBN’s Bantay Bata 163 which will be recipients of the proceeds from the registration fees.  Joining Sun City Suites in this endeavor are the City Government of General Santos and generous friends Phoenix Petroleum and GenSan’s official Apple Products Distributor PCWorx, located at KCC Mall of GenSan.

Since this run will be for the benefit of Bantay Bata 163, registration fees will be charged for the 3 marathon categories:  P300 for the 3K, P250 for the 5K and P250 again for the 10K.  All groups of 10 participants will be given a discount of 10%.

All registrants/participants are entitled to receive a Singlet (Official Night Run shirt or “sando”), a Bib (which contains your #) and a Finisher’s Certificate.

Participants may also join two other Contests cooked up for the Night Run:  the “Jazz Up Your Singlet” Contest and the “Shoot & Run Photo Contest”, which requires a registration fee of P100 only.

Registration was closed on July 16, 2011 but I guess you can still talk to Race organizers Macky Cruz (cp # 0933-4799415) and Ms. Kate Budke (cp # 0922-8009739) if you and your friends still want to join the most exciting race ever to hit GenSan.  I am sure their boss, the hardworking Philip Pabelic, who also happens to be the President of the GenSan Hoteliers Association would accede to your requests.

With that, GenSan News Online Mag is leaving you with the Sun City Suites’ Night Fun Run RACE MAP so you would know where you should go during the most awaited evening for health buffs this week.

Click on the picture for a larger view of the Race Map.

So will you join this Night Run for a good cause?  Tatakbo ka ba?

If you are on the lookout for refreshing drinks to cool you down during these hot “summer-like” days, try Zagu Pearl Shakes‘ latest concoction which is being offered on a limited time only.

It’s their deliciously satisfying “Choco Orange” flavored shakes!!

Zagu’s Choco Orange Pearl Shakes is available only from July 1, 2011 to October 31, 2011.  Bariles was fortunate to try it and was floored by the unique combination of two of his favorite flavors – chocolate and orange.  It was a perfect shakes blend mixed with its heavenly chewy pearls made of yam and tapioca.

Zagu’s Choco Orange Pearl Shake is available in three sizes – Baby Z (P38), Regular (P45) and Grande (P53) at its Gaisano Mall of GenSan and KCC Mall of Koronadal outlets.

Soon, Zagu Pearl Shakes will open at Fitmart Tacurong so watch out for it.

The generals are in for another surpise this weekend as Manny Pacquiao and beauteous wife Jinkee will be bringing in famous reggae group, The Chocolate Factory Band, for two nights of performances at their J’mix Bar!

The event dubbed “Reggae on J’mix” will start tonight, July 14, 2011 until tomorrow, Friday, July 15th at J’mix Bar’s second floor venue at their JMP 2 Building, along Aparente Avenue, City Heights, GenSan.  It is the same building housing Jinkee’s Fashion on the ground floor.

According to Ms. Jinkee Pacquiao whom Bariles talked to last night, performing together with The Chocolate Factory Band is Duncan Ramos, an ASAP Sessionistas member who has been here in GenSan a couple of times already.  And based on a blurb on the poster, some other unnamed celebrities from Manila will be present during the two-night Reggae-themed parties.

The entrance charge to “Reggae on J’mix” is only P100 which should be the cheapest on the planet considering the promise of hobnobbing with celebrities at Manny Pacquiao and Jinkee’s party kingdom!

Of course, expect the royal couple to be there too!