Last March 12, 2010, Google came to UP Cebu to hold the Innovation Forum 2010 entitled Inspiring Innovation: The Google Way. Guest speakers Christine Songco of Google, Inc. and Dan de Lima of Google Japan shared to us a lot of things about Google like the history of Google, new technologies and innovations involving Google, it’s aims in helping developers and a lot more. Both shared their life as Google employees too, and how they became one. I’d say that the forum was really informative and inspiring. I am surprised that I was listening eagerly to their talks. When I learned that Dan de Lima was also an Iskolar ng Bayan and once worked for a local software company, then I thought I might have a chance of being part of the Google team someday too. But I must prove my worth first.

The Google event stage in the UP Conference Hall

The whole morning was spent for the talks of Ms. Songco and Mr. de Lima, including the open forum part where the audience can ask anything from the guest speakers. I have this question in mind: What does it take to become part of the Google team? I didn’t raise that question up though. I find Ms. Songco and Mr. de Lima amazing people. They look and sound really happy with their jobs in Google. I’m glad I was able to hear their talks.

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American Idol’s Jason Castro will be having a concert in Ayala Center Cebu on March 20, 2010. Warner Music Phils. and the Ayala Malls bring Jason Castro to the Philippines for a post-Valentine treat.

Jason Castro is a singer-songwriter and is part of American Idol Season 7 together with Cook and Archuleta. Castro was one of the most popular artists in AI history and is well known as the first contestant ever to play an instrument on the show. One of his most remembered renditions is the classic “Hallelujah” which became an instant audience favorite and an iTunes hit (Buckley rendition). Another favorite from him is the “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” unique rendition which also hit the charts. He was also one of those who made “American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008″ successful.

American Idol's Jason Castro (Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/treeclimber/)

Jason Castro will soon release an album. “The Love Uncompromised EP” will be here in the Philippines sometime. This is a prelude to a full album set (under Warner Music Phils.) released on a later date.

Feel the summer with Jason Castro! Again, catch him live on March 20 in Ayala Center Cebu. His other concert dates are: March 18 at Trinoma, March 19 at Glorietta 5, and March 21 at Market! Market!

The University of the Philippines Information Technology Training Center (UP ITTC) offers a One-Year Certificate in IT Course to graduates of BS Computer Science and IT-related courses. Graduates from other courses who possess a high aptitude for IT or have been aspiring to become part of the IT industry are welcome as well. Be a certified IT professional!

As part of UP ITTC’s goal in making IT courses and trainings available to more Filipinos, an admission exam for potential students will be held in different UP colleges all around the Philippines (see schedule and venue below). Successful applicants can also avail of the scholarships through the sponsorship of several industry partners.

For those in Cebu, the admission exam will be on March 17, 2010, 8AM-12PM at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Cebu College in Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City. More information at the poster below. [Continue reading...]

Would you want your computer usage to be tracked down by a single software? I guess not. Computer spy softwares are used to secretly record everything a person does on a computer. The best spy softwares are faced the challenge of being made undetectable by anti-spyware applications. So it is basically spy software versus anti-spyware. The ability of such software to store up to thousands of screenshots and typed in text (tracked through a key logger) makes it effective in computer surveillance — plus it works in any computer including laptops.

Computer spy softwares are usually used for family, corporate or personal use. I’ll discuss, on a personal point of view, the advantages and disadvantages of using computer spy softwares.

Personally, I don’t like being spied upon by some hidden software. It creeps me out. Of course that applies to my laptop at home. Using computer spy softwares for personal surveillance purposes can be intrusive — add damaging. You don’t want to reach school with the news spread out (with screenshots of course) that you watch too much porn, or you stalk your teacher and whatnots. For personal use, I guess computer spy softwares are evil — can be used for stalking, for blackmail and breaking down another’s privacy on a general note. But that’s just one disadvantage.

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Last night, I watched Marley and Me and spent some “emotional” time watching the ending again. Who would have thought I’d watch a similar, but more dramatic, dog movie today? We watched the 2009 movie starring Richard Gere entitled Hachiko: A Dog’s Story.

Hachiko: A Dog’s Story is based on a heartwarming true story from Japan about an Akita breed dog named Hachiko and his steadfast loyalty to his owner even after his (the owner) death. Hachi was found on the train station, lost, and was adopted by Prof. Parker Wilson (Gere). Hachi grew up with Parker and he accompanies his owner to the train station everyday and would return in the afternoon to greet him after work (with the train sound as a cue). Unfortunately, the professor died one day and never returned to the station. Hachiko faithfully returns to the same spot at the station the very next day, and every day for the next nine years to wait for his beloved master. Hachiko died on the same spot where he waited for his owner everyday.

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