Attention all IT students and practitioners out there, join the BITS Conference 2012 and get a handful of new relevant information useful in your chosen field.

BITS Conference 2012 will feature sessions from Microsoft, Drupal, Animation, Teletech, WOW Batangas and other IT-industry experts. As a student conference, presentations are focused and aligned with IT students academic loads, among the agenda are as follows:

• Computer Animation
• PhilNITS IT Certification Exam
• Poverty Education through Information Technology
• Microsoft Technology Updates
• Corel Draw
• Web Development using Drupal
• Phyton programming
• Advocacy on Open Source / Android Programming
• Smart Wireless
• Career Development in IT

BITS Conference 2012 features a full day of conference sessions provided by people who are experienced in the topic as well as excellent presenters. Sessions are delivered by enterprise IT, managers and experts covering experiences, strategies and updated information.

The learning that can be acquired from conference attendance although mainly reinforces a students knowledge in IT, is also intended to encourage students commitment and interest in the field of information technology.

The value of information that a student will receive is incredible. It is an effective way to keep the students educated, informed not just with the latest in IT but also the current issues involving the field.

Goals of conference attendance

Attending a conference is a professionally rewarding experience. In addition to socializing with other participants, the two main reasons to attend this conference are to hear presentations and to converse with other students of the same interest.

Information Technology is always a developing and changing agenda. We almost see new things every second. Attending activities such as BITS Conference 2012 provides a wider avenue for students to discover, update, and enrich their knowledge and interest in the fast-paced techie world.

Registration

BITS Conference 2012 is open to all technical schools, colleges and universities in Batangas offering IT/Computer related courses. A pre-registration is required for a fee of Php 300 for bulk registration (minimum of 50 pax) and Php 350.00 for walk in registration or those who did not meet the bulk registration, inclusive of certificate, raffle ticket, conference kit and snacks. You may send a copy of registration at batangas.itech.society@gmail.com, 09206621772.

Location: Cultural Center, Lipa City Batangas.
Date and Time: Friday, February 4, 2012, 7:00am to 5:00PM

Kahapon, dahil walang kuryente, nagawi kami sa Lipa (ang normal na gawain kapag brownout at ayaw naming maburo sa bahay). Unang stop bago kami mag-segue sa Ms. Eco Gay pageant night sa SM City Lipa ay sa tiangge.

Taon-taon, sumisikip ang mga kalye sa town proper ilang linggo bago ang fiesta (January 20th). Okay, sabihin na nating hassle ito sa mga may sasakyan na araw-araw dumadaan doon. Pero sa mga mamimiling mahilig sa presyong Divisoria, shopping haven ang tiangge!

Anong hanap mo?

Gamit sa kusina?

Kurtina? Punda? Tuwalya?

Damit? Undergarments?

At iba pa?

Accessories? Bags? Tsinelas? Panglinis sa banyo? Hahay, available ang mga yan sa tiangge. Mas maganda kung pakyaw kang bibili.

Tuwing may tianggi-an o bazaar sa Lipa, dinadayo talaga ito ng mga mamimili kasi nga naman, murang-mura ang mga paninda. Yun nga lang, kelangan expert ka pa rin sa pagtawad. Oh, alam na alam ito ng mga suki ng Divisoria.

Hindi pa rin maiiwasan ang may magsamantala sa dami ng mga taong nagsisiksikan sa tiangge. Ingat pa rin sa mga napakababait na mga snatchers. Pardon the pictures, kuha kasi ang mga yan gamit ang cellphone camera ko na hindi ko alam kung paanong ingat ang gagawin ko kasi baka bigla na lang mahablot. Haha. Syempre, iba pa rin ang nag-iingat. Mas madaling mag-ingat kesa manghabol ng snatcher o kaya mawalan ng walang kamalay-malay.

Ang tiangge, para sa akin, ay hindi lamang lugar pamilihan. Ito ay sumasalamin sa isang makulay na kultura ng mga Pilipino. Kahit kelan, hindi kacheap-an ang mamili at makipagtawaran sa mga tindero at tindera sa tiangge. Ang saya kaya, try mo!

Maraming tao ang umiikot ang buhay sa tiangge. Maraming tao ang nakakahanap ng kaligayahan sa pamimili dito. At maraming bibig ang napapakain at pangarap na pinagiipunang marating dahil sa mga taong tumatangkilik sa mga samu’t saring kung anu-ano sa shopping haven ng mga nagtitipid.

It must have been the good laugh last night and the uninterrupted sleep I had (plus a few notes on an early conversation with an important person, haha) that good vibes welcomed my otherwise lazy morning.

The best thing about waking up on the right side of the bed and getting inflicted with good vibes is being able to spread the positive mood to everyone. Admit it guys, we all have mood swings. So don’t complain if your girlfriend/sister/mom’s mood gets you crazy at times. You too, have your own share of bad days as well.

Happiness is at its best state when shared. So let’s pass on the happy vibe. Who knows how many of your friends or co-workers need it, right?

Pardon me if I may sound like a preacher-wannabe or some twenty-something lady speaking from a self-help book. And to be able NOT to do that, let these random songs, images, quotes, and videos lift up your mood, make you happy, get you some goooood vibes.

A Filipino translation: Wag mong problemahin ang problema mo kung ayaw mong mamroblema.

Feed your mind with motivational notes.

Think of what you have that others may lack of. Or may not even have. That way, you’d know how blessed you are.

Pray. The most effective way to beat bad vibes.

Just asking, you’re life should have started since when? Listen to music that will get you singing and motivated the whole day.

Life’s a beach! Now go ahead and swim. Good vibes everyone.

Article contributed by Ken Michael Escamillas

Perhaps we know Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, and Benjamin Franklin as world-renown inventors. But did you know that Batangas boasts of famous inventors, too?

Yes. And we should be proud of them. Batanguenos are also brilliant thinkers of new things which is said to be very beneficial for our own advancement.

Two of the recognized Filipino inventors hails from Batangas. These were Gregorio Zara and Maria Orosa.

Gregorio Zara (March 8, 1902 – October 15, 1978) was born in Lipa City Batangas. Gregorio Zara became famous for his two-way television telephone or videophone, Law of Electrical Kinetic Resistance or the so-called “Zara Effect”, propeller-cutting machine and many more.

He was a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Among his recognitions were the Distinguished Service Medal for his works and achievements in solar energy research aeronautics and television (1959) and Cultural Heritage Award for Science Education and Aero Engineering.

If you want to know who’s behind the invention of banana ketchup, that’s Maria Orosa (1893-1945). She was a food technologist who was known for her invention, the Calamansi Nip (a powdered form of calamansi which one can be made into juice) and Soyalac (powdered soya beans) and Orosa palayok oven. Maria Oroza was born in Taal Batangas. She also invented delis like kasuy and guava Wines, guava jelly, and rice cookies.

The inventions of these two amazing Batanguenos became a strong foundation of a lot of innovations today. Batangas is looking forward for more inventions and people with the minds of Zara and Oroza to come up and make everyone proud.

Online Source: inventors.about.com

Photo Source: instructables.com, dreamcatcherrye.blogspot.com

http://www.filipinoinventorssocietyinc.com/members-inventions6.html

http://www.nhi.gov.ph/downloads/sm0029.pdf

http://inventors.about.com/od/filipinoscientists/a/Gregorio_Zara.htm

So it’s a yes for the Philippines’ new tourism slogan. DOT is pushing through with implementing the campaign despite the (again) copycat issue pertaining to Switzerland’s “It’s More fun in Switzerland” from 1951.

Countless of memes and comical slogans for local destinations in the country are spreading around various websites and social networking sites. And as a group which promotes the tourism of Batangas, we came up with these memes. This is just the first batch, expect more memes to be delivered later on.

It’s more fun in Batangas. It’s more fun in the Philippines!

Mag-dive sa Anilao!

Click here so you’d know where’s that Bali in Balete.

Of course, the Star for All Seasons is also our leader for all seasons.

Loming Batangas is one of our province’s trademarks, in case you still don’t know.

Padre Garcia, the Cattle Trading Capital of the Philippines

Before you plan to trek the crater of Mt. Pinatubo, you should see first our very own Taal Volcano.

Boy Pick-up is a proud native of Taal.

Lambanog, the “poor man’s drink” is San Juan’s prime product.

We’d like you to share with us your own memes. Let’s show them what we’ve got here in the beautiful Batangas. Taralets!

Photo Release from Astra Media Communications

Aiming to have a reliable collection service provider and to provide its customers convenient and accessible avenues for bills payment transactions at the start of the year, Batangas II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Batelec II) sealed a partnership agreement with CIS Bayad Center, Inc. (CBCI) last December 15, 2011.

The partnership enables CBCI to accept individual, corporate and government electric bills payments from the municipalities of San Juan, Taysan, Lobo, Rosario, Mabini, Tingloy, Alitagtag, Cuenca,
San Jose, Lipa, Mataasnakahoy, Padre Garcia, Tanauan, Malvar, Talisay, Laurel and from the city of Batangas.

In the photo are (from left to right): CBCI Vice President and COO Pit P. Quevedo and President and CEO Manny L. Tuason, and Batelec II President Ruperto H. Manalo and Assistant General Manager Octavious M. Mendoza.

Sa halos tatlong taon na pagbabahagi namin sa inyo ng mga kwento mula sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Batangas, libo-libong litrato na rin ang inyong kinalkal (haha) sa aming mga albums.

Tingnan natin kung matatandaan nyo ang mga distorted images na ito. Hulaan kung sino/ano/alin/saan ito sa Batangas?

Saan?

Sino?

Ano?

Ano?

Sino?

Saan?

Saan?

Ano?

Ano?

Sino?

If you landed on this page, for sure you want answers for the question that hooked you to click this article. We all want to be rich, don’t we?

There are ways on how to be rich. Or rather, there are aspects in your life where you can be one. Being rich is not just about having millions in your bank account. Being rich is not just about owning a properties here, there, and everywhere.

Okay, the meaning of the word rich is “having abundance in material possessions”, thanks to ardicttionary.com. So if you still don’t have the abundance in terms of money or properties, don’t just die in vain. Sometimes, being rich is just a state of mind.

1. Assess what you have. If you don’t have anything to assess, jump to the next item.

2. Start something new to gain something better. Business? Since we’re just on our way to start the new year, why don’t you come up with a business idea and find the means, the right people to help you out, and the right attitude that would back up your brilliant idea.

3. Create a list. When things go wrong or things get scrambled along the way, grab a pen and a paper and list down the things you have, the things you don’t have, and the things you want to have.

4. Take good care of the important people in your life. When you take care of the relationships you have now, you are not just rich, you are blessed.

5. Learn something new. When you gain new knowledge, you gain new experience. Exploring the best of this world takes you to a rich journey to life. And on the places you go to, through the people you meet along the way, opportunities may show their way to you.

6. Attract good vibes. If you often sulk on failures and frustrations, you are attracting the negative vibe. It’s normal that we get sad and we feel down at times. It’s in those low moments that we get to appreciate the good things. So get up and enjoy the ride!

7. Dress well and look good. Seriously. No, it’s not the fashion enthusiast in me that’s trying to lure you to be fashionistas. Whatever makes you comfortable makes you beautiful on the outside. Looking good doesn’t mean you have to be in a Louboutin or a Gucci. Looking good means you highlight your best features, you look clean and mabango, and you don’t look broke. Kung hindi ka mayaman, mas lalong wag kang magmukhang mahirap.

8. Be a goal-getter. In this life, you have to be bold in taking risks. You have to be brave enough to get to your goals but don’t ever do this at the expense of other people. If you want to be rich, you have to work hard. You have to be strong in all aspects. Lahat ng mayaman ngayon, maliban sa may yamang minana, nagsimula sa matinding pagsisikap. Lahat sila may sakripisyong ginawa, nakaka-inspire na mga kwento, at Diyos na pinananaligan.

We may not be rich in things we want to have abundance of, but you must feel blessed. When you think you don’t have enough, think of the people who don’t even have what you have.

Have a blessed 2012! Be a blessing to other people.

Image Source: howtoberichandhappy.nl

Before the Mamang-os and Kambingan Festival, Tuy had another festival you should learn about. Er, “pestebal”, that is.

Article contributed by Ken Michael Escamillas

Batanguenos are really clever! We are fond of creating unique yet ingenious things which will surely create a mark to everyone. As I have searched about festivities here in the province, I have discovered one unique festival which reflects Batangueño creativity. And that comes from Tuy – the Salagubang Pestebal.

A Festival with Purpose

Sugarcane farmers from Tuy thought that having this festival is the best way of killing the pest – the June bee or locally known as the Salagubang. The sand colored, thumb-sized winged insect is small but is the terrible enemy of farmers that damage of all their crops being produced. The white grubs or the larvae bites the roots of sugarcane while the beetles eat up the leaves and stems.

Imagine, they can make 97 million-peso damage every year. The towns of Balayan and Calaca had also experienced 66 million-peso loss on crops due to salagubang infestation.

And with this, Salagubang Pestebal existed which pursued to have an economic and environment-friendly way of controlling the salagubang infestation.

Tuyused to celebrate the Salagubang Pestebal in June 15 and 16 of every year which I assumed to be filled with unusual yet exciting activities.

What’s in the festival?

Well, you never heard of the word “Ug-og” right?

Primarily, one of the aims of Salagubang Pestebal is the massive collection of salagubang which is their own way of controlling the infestation. This is done by doing ug-og. People shake the trees, catch and put the fallen salagubangs in the sack. The one who collected the most number of salagubang wins a cash prize.

To add up zing, Salagubang Pestebal begins with parade of floats and Salagubang mascots. There are also games like salagubang race and wrestling and “That’s my Salagubang” where contestants were dressed up with Salagubang costumes. Another one was the Salagubang Fear Factor Challenge, which dares the contestants to do challenges like eating a live salagubang or lie on a bed of salagubang for the longest time possible.

The much awaited event of the festival was the Langhap Sarap Cooking Challenge. The prime ingredient, of course salagubang. Participants were allowed to create their own dishes but it should highlight the salagubang.

Salagubang is actually edible. It is said to be rich in protein and contains vitamins and minerals found in sugarcanes.

Now, I can say that Salagubang Pestebal is purely strategic and fun. It is so amazing to know that Batanguenos are also good thinkers of feasible solutions. Yet, above all, they see to it that there’s teamwork among the people showed in the most festive way.

I shall say that Salagubang Pestebal is one of the strongest trademarks of Tuy. And I hope this mark will be remembered for years.

Source: newsflash.org, batanggenyo.net

Photo credit: pilya.deviantart.com, batanggenyo.net, kabeetmaps.com

Article contributed by Pael Balbaboco of First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities

Sa libro ni Bob Ong na Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?, nabanggit niya na ang jeep nating mga Pilipino ang isa sa mga natitira nating tunay na simbolismo. Sabi pa niya, kapag sumakay ka daw ng jeep, hindi ka lang sumasakay sa isang sasakyang panlupa na naghahatid sa mga pasahero sa mga destinasyon nila, ngunit sumasakay din tayo sa isang kultura – ang kultura nating mga Pilipino.

Ngunit ang jeep ay hindi naman talaga nagmula sa Pilipinas. Ito ay unang ginawa noong World War II bilang military jeepneys ng mga Amerikano at dito nila iniwan ang mga ito sa Pilipinas. Simula noong 1945 hanggang ngayon, nakilala ang jeepney sa Pilipinas bilang isang pambansang simbolo – may makulay na palamuti at siksikang mga pasahero.

Ang salitang jeepney ay pinagsamang “jeep” at “Jitney” (isang uri ng taxi na pinagsasaluhandin ng maraming pasahero). Sa Pilipinas, Sarao ang pinakasumikat na jeep manufacturer hanggang sa nasundan na lamang ito ng ilan pang gumagawa sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas.

Kilalang-kilala ang jeep bilang isa sa mga pinakasikat na modes of transportation sa ating bansa. Kadalasan, dalawang tao ang nasa unahan ng jeep – ang driver at ang kundoktor. Ang kundoktor ang bahala sa pagkolekta ng bayad, ngunit kung wala ang kundoktor, ang mga pasahero mismo ang nagpapasa-pasahan ng mga bayad hanggang sa makarating ito ni Manong Driver. Sa tuwing hihinto naman ang isang jeep sa mga terminal, merong barker o dispatcher na tumutulong sa driver para mapuno ang kanyang sasakyan. Isisigaw ng barker ang destinasyon ng byahe, kung ilan na lang ang kulang at kung minsan, kahit siksikan na at wala nang magkakasya, sisigaw pa rin ang barker na pwede pa ang dalawa.

Para naman makababa, kailangang pumara ng mga pasahero. Yan ang kalimitang kultura. Sisigaw ka ng “Para!” para tumigil ang jeep at para makababa ka. Sabi nga ng mga barker, “Ang katok, sa pinto. Sa sutsot, sa aso. At ang para, sa tao.”

Tinatawag din ang jeep na fierra ngunit hindi ito masyadong ginagamit dito sa Pilipinas. Nakilala ang tawag ditong fierra sa isang lumang Pinoy na kantang Ang Fierra ni Juan ay may Butas sa Gulong. Ang jeep ay nakarating na rin sa ibang bahagi ng Africa bilang public mode of transportation.

Ilang linggo na ang nakakaraan, ang BBC TV show na Toughest Place to Be a Bus Driver ay nagpunta sa Pilipinas upang pasubukan sa isang London coach/bus driver ang pagmamaneho ng Pinoy jeep.

Ganyan ang Philippine jeepney, maraming naihahatid, malayo ang nararating, at tatak na sariling atin.

Photo Credit: freewebs.com