MANIGONG BAGONG TAON

Naway sa darating na taon ay lalo pa tayong lahat maging mas bihasa sa larangan ng Impormasyon Komunikasyon Teknolohiya at tungkol sa mga gadgets. Inuulit po namin ang aming sinumpaang tungkulin na kayo, aming mga lugod na mambabasa, ay dulutan mga balita na siyang mamaari ninyong magamit para sa ikabubuti ng inyong mga buhay at ikasusulong ng kalagayan ng inyong mga minamahal sa buhay. Muli Manigong Bagong Taon po sa lahat ng aming mga tagasubaybay.

Relly Carpio
Walastech

UPAA ANNOUNCES THIS YEAR'S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDEES

Twenty-four exceptional graduates and three alumni chapters of the University of the Philippines will receive recognition awards from the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) for the year 2010. The award ceremonies will be held during the U.P. General Alumni-Faculty Homecoming & Reunion on June 26, 2010, 4:00 P.M. at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni, U.P. Diliman Campus, Quezon City .

The UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards are conferred on alumni who have demonstrated in their chosen field of endeavor, extraordinary achievements and excellent contributions that bring about substantial benefits to society and distinct honor to the University. Recognition is given to achievements and contributions that impact the community in which the alumni are or have been active, whether this is at the local, national or international level.

This year’s 23 UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awardees are led by four alumni who are being recognized for Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Jose B. Cruz, Jr., BSEE ’53 scl; Dr. Ernesto O. Domingo, AA ’56 and MD ‘61; Dr. Dionisia A. Rola, AA ’41 with high honors and BSE ’47 mcl; and Prof. Isabel Juliana C. Sevilla-Soriano, AB ’53 cl.

“The UPAA made a special effort this time to identify unsung alumni achievers -- those whose accomplishments in little-known corners of the country are remarkable but have remained unheralded and unrecognized,” said Alfredo Pascual, UPAA President.

The other alumni awardees for outstanding achievements in various fields are: Dr. Cleofas P. Rodriguez-Cervancia, BSA ’68, MS ’72, PhD ’82 (Community Development through Research and Extension Services); Dr. Julie C. Fuentes, DDM ’85 (Community Service Overseas-Dental Health); Mr. Nicolas A. Deocampo, AB ’81 cl (Culture and the Arts - Filmmaking); Mr. Angel C. Cacnio, BFA ’54 (Culture and the Arts - Painting); Ms. Annie G. Dee, BSIE ’77 (Employment Creation through Entrepreneurship); Ms. Ma. Teresa J. Danguilan-Vitug, AB ’75 (Good Governance Promotion through Investigative Journalism); Ms. Adelina A. Royeca-Philipsen, AB ’77 (Human Development-Poor Handicapped Children); Dr. Lily M. Rosqueta-Rosales, BSE ’51, MA ’57 (Human Resources Development-Guidance and Counseling); Atty. Ramon Antonio P. Paterno, LLB ’70 (International Development); Dr. Carolyn Anne L. Canda-Benigno, DVM ’85 (International Public Service-Animal Health); Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, BS ’81, MD ’85 (Medical Research and Education-Infectious Diseases); Dr. Francisco S. Sy, BS ’70, MD ’75 (Medical Research and Education Overseas-Infectious Diseases); Dr. Juan Ma. Pablo R. Nañagas, MD ’74, MPH ’00 (Public Health Research and Management); Mr. Lucio N. Tabing, BSA ’70 (Rural Community Empowerment through Broadcast Communication); Dr. Agustin B. Molina, Jr., BSA ’73, MS ’79 (Science and Technology-Banana Research); Dr. Rey A. Elizondo, BSAE ’68 (Science and Technology-Food Engineering); Dr. Miflora Miñoza-Gatchalian, BSFT ’59, MA ’68 (Science and Technology-Food Safety and Quality); Dr. Cynthia T. Hedreyda, BS ’76, MS ’83 (Science and Technology-Molecular Biology); and Ms. Marian M. Santos-Nash, BSHE ’76 (Women Empowerment).

“The UPAA also gives special awards to individuals or groups who have rendered excellent service in the pursuit of the goals of the University and the Association,” added Pascual.

This year’s UPAA Distinguished Service Award for an Alumnus goes to Dr. Ramon Maria G. Acoymo, BS ’79 cl, BM ’88 mcl, PhD ’05. The UPAA Distinguished Service Awardees for Alumni Chapters are the UP Dental Alumni Association, UPAA Davao Chapter and UP Los Baños Alumni Association-America.

For inquiries on the U.P. Grand Faculty and Alumni Homecoming and Reunion, please contact the UPAA Secretariat at landline numbers 9206871, 9206868, 9206875, e-mail upalum@yahoo.com.ph, or cellular phone number 09178372098.

MORE THAN 15 REASONS TO CELEBRATE WITH SEAIR

Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR), the country’s premiere leisure airline, marks its 15th Anniversary on March 25, 2010 with more than 15 reasons for travelers to celebrate all year round.

For couples celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary on March 25, 2010, SEAIR is offering free airfare for travel to any of its destinations. Airfare charge is exclusive of taxes and other surcharges. They simply need to present their marriage certificate in any SEAIR ticketing office to avail of the promo. Teenagers who turn 15 on March 25, 2010 will also get free airfare for any routes of their choice when they present their birth certificates upon ticketing. Promo period for booking and ticketing is from March 25 – March 31, 2010. Travel period is from June 16 – October 15, 2010.

During this summer season, SEAIR will be giving away Sony Ericsson Kita mobile phones to 15 lucky passengers. The Kita is a slider phone with a 5.0 megapixel camera and is the first mobile phone outside the Japanese market that supports gesture gaming. SEAIR passengers can avail of special discounts and privileges in more than 15 SEAIR partner establishments in Manila and Boracay when they present their tickets or boarding passes. A list of partner establishments can be found in the SEAIR InFlight Magazine.

Travelers can avail of special morning rates of as low as PhP 1,999.20 per way all-in for travel from March 2010 and onwards. The rates are available for limited seats for all flights to and from Boracay before 7 a.m.

Holidaymakers can get PhP 1,500.00 off per way for limited seats in all flights and all routes when they book via www.FlySeair.com. To avail of the promo, online users can type iloveseair15 in the promo code field when booking on March 14-25 for travel on June 15-Oct. 15.

Lean season promos are available for limited seats for travel on June 16 to October 15, 2010. One-way Boracay tickets can be purchased for as low as PhP 1235++ and one-way Batanes tickets for as low as PhP 2,835++. Selling period is until May 15, 2010. Special packages with Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa in Marinduque at PhP 26,345 per person are offered to all SEAIR passengers. Bellarocca, tagged the Santorini of the Philippines, comes with five-star amenities and intimate and luxurious accommodations. The package includes four days/ three nights’ accommodation, roundtrip land and sea transfers, three breakfasts and dinners, and complimentary access to the resort amenities.

SEAIR will start flights to San Fernando , La Union on April 14, 2010 with complimentary transfers to Baguio City . Special vacation packages with one of the finest five- star hotels in the Northern Philippine Region, Thunderbird Resorts - Poro Point in La Union, are also available.

Travelers can join the SEAIR Facebook Fan Page and visit www.FlySeair.com for more reasons to celebrate with SEAIR.

SEAIR has been serving key tourist destinations since 1995, including Boracay, Basco (Batanes), Tablas (Romblon), San Fernando (La Union), Marinduque, El Nido, Cebu, Clark , Zamboanga, Jolo, and Tawi-tawi. SEAIR also offers the most routes to and from Caticlan with flights from Caticlan to Manila , Clark and Cebu .

The airline has the longest history of uninterrupted service to Boracay direct via Caticlan. It is the nation’s second longest airline and has flown almost 3 million passengers.

For inquiries and reservations, call SEAIR at 8490100 for ticket reservations and 8437308 for packages.

SONY ERICSSON CONTEST PARA SA FIFA EXTENDED

First Filipino flag bearer to FIFA World Cup™

Join now for an experience of a lifetime at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ at www.clickthecity.com/sonyericssonfifa. Children have until March 25, 2010 to send in their videos answering, “Why I deserve to win the Sony Ericsson Search for the FIFA World Cup™ flag bearer.” Sony Ericsson is sending a Filipino child to proudly carry a FIFA flag live on the pitch in South Africa , marking the first time the country will participate in the global sports event.

The competition dares Filipino children aged 10-16 years old to creatively answer the question in a 30-60 second video. Act, dance, illustrate, sing or perform the reason. Contestants can submit as many entries as they want. Five finalists will each win the Sony Ericsson Kita, the gesture gaming phone wonder with 5-megapixel camera, photo geo-tagging, Net access, high quality media player and stereo speakers.

From then on, the five videos will be voted upon for the Philippines to decide who gets to be the first FIFA flag bearer. The grand winner, together with his parent or guardian, will fly to South Africa in July complete with hotel accommodations and pocket money. He or she will then walk the pitch with other young flag bearers and watch a thrilling FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals match firsthand.

“This will be the first time for the Philippines to participate in a FIFA World Cup™ event so we are inviting Filipino children to try out and give it their best,” said Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson General Manager.

More details are at www.clickthecity.com/sonyericssonfifa. Join in or vote for the top video of your choice. The grand winner will be announced on April 20, 2010.

PINOY NANALO NG US$50k

Ayon sa isang report sa Techie.com.ph isang pinoy na nagngangalang Wayne Dell Manuel ay nanalo sa kumpetisyon ng Google Maps kung saan nanalo siya ng tumataginting na US$50,000.

Ang galing talaga ng pinoy!

GUSTO MO BANG MANOOD NG FIFA?

Trip to South Africa and Sony Ericsson phones up for grabs in FIFA World Cup ™ video contest

It’s game on for FIFA World Cup™ fans as Sony Ericsson launches a video competition that promises exciting prizes including the new gesture gaming phone Kita and a trip for two to South Africa . Sony Ericsson is searching for a Filipino child to be a FIFA flag bearer in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa .

The winning child, together with his parent or guardian, can use his Sony Ericsson Kita to catch the excitement of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“The Sony Ericsson Kita will be an exciting and handy travel companion for our young FIFA flag bearer headed for Cape Town , South Africa . The handset will help him or her keep in touch, and keep us posted on this historic journey ahead. This will be the first time for the Philippines to participate in a FIFA World Cup event,” said Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson General Manager.

Sony Ericsson will award Kita handsets to the top five finalists of the Search for the FIFA World Cup™ Flag Bearer. The contest is open to Filipino children aged 10-16 years old. Simply create a 30-60 second video and creatively answer, “Why I deserve to win the Sony Ericsson Search for the FIFA World Cup™ flag bearer.” Upload the video to http://www.clickthecity.com/sonyericssonfifa/. Children can have fun and present their reasons in play, song, dance and other creative ways to convince judges.

Five finalists will be chosen and beginning March 8, 2010, voting for the number one favorite flag bearer begins. Sony Ericsson will let the public decide who deserves the honor of being sent as the Philippines ’ first FIFA flag bearer to this premier international sporting event.

The Sony Ericsson Kita is the first motion and gesture gaming handset outside the Japanese market, and features everything for the young traveler to enjoy. It comes loaded with gesture games, so one can just move their body to play and win. Other great games, including motion and standard games, are ready to be accessed from a games carousel on the phone’s desktop. A/B buttons act as gaming shortcut keys.

Kita also comes with a 5-megapixel camera with auto focus, 4x digital zoom, face detection and geo-tagging. Take pictures and record videos of unforgettable FIFA World Cup™ moments. The camera has a send-to-web function for one to easily share images and video clips to family and friends. Music call lets a user share their music with one button press while talking.

Exclusively for the Asia Pacific market, the Kita also comes with exclusive content from the Sony Ericsson Entertainment Asia portal. Each phone can be loaded with entertainment features of the user’s choice such as blockbuster films from Sony Pictures, songs and music videos from Sony Music and game titles from the Gameloft content library.

Sony Ericsson is the Official Mobile Phone Handset of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Visit http://www.clickthecity.com/sonyericssonfifa/ to learn more about the Sony Ericsson Search for the FIFA World Cup™ Flag Bearer. Registered voters on the site will get a chance to win the exclusive Sony Ericsson Team Pilipinas shirts.

MINI REUNION PARA SA U.P. JUBILARIANS

Magkakaroon ng mini reunion ang mga UP Jubilarians batches 1950, 1960, 1970 and at 1985 sa February 3.

Heto ang mga detalye:

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) is inviting all alumni jubilarians celebrating in 2010 to a mini-reunion and planning meeting on February 3, Wednesday, at Ang Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman campus, from 2 pm to 5 pm. The celebrating batches are Class 1950 (Diamond), Class 1960 (Golden), Class 1970 (Ruby) and Class 1985 (Silver).

The UP general alumni homecoming will be held on June 25-26 also at Ang Bahay ng Alumni. The meeting this Feb. 3 will discuss among other things the program for the alumni homecoming and other activities to mark their jubilarian celebration. A photo session has also been scheduled to facilitate the collection of individual photos to be used in the alumni yearbook due for release during the homecoming. Jubilarians are hence requested to arrive in appropriate attire. We suggest barong or shirt with blazer for men and semi-formal wear for women.

For more details, please contact Shirley at the UPAA Secretariat at landline numbers 9206871, 9206868, 9206875, e-mail upalum@yahoo.com.ph, or cellphone number 09178372098.