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IBM developer portal targets Pinoy IT community
IBM Corp. launched Friday a new online destination that allows Filipino software developers to collaborate with a global network of IT professionals using IBM middleware.
Charles Manuel, ASEAN program director of IBM's IDR & University Relation Software Group, said the IBM MydeveloperWorks site seeks to tap into the country's growing number of software developers, which now number about 150,000. "As a company we pride ourselves at being at the forefront of innovation. We want to engage this community in a compelling way because we believe in the Philippine government's vision to create a smarter workforce, representing knowledge-based workers," he said in a press briefing.
"It's now a great time to invest and increase our workforce here," he added.
Manuel said My developerWorks uses the different social networking attributes of Twitter, Facebook and MySpace into a single view for users, enabling them to tap into their existing online relationships to create new groups. Since the site is geared for developers, users can more easily gain real-time access to key technology updates, link with other experts and build critical skills requirements more quickly.
For example, he said developers who want to learn XML could simply tailor their homepage to receive content on XML healthcre standards, join professional groups and stay current on new skills resources.
"When we provide a platform like My developerWorks, they get the raw technological engines and assets from IBM Research Labs. It is also collaborative so there will also be some content that will come from foreign and local developers," he said.
Manuel said the importance of collaboration could be seen in the success of Linux, which spawned thousands of applications created by different individuals.
My developerWorks currently has a membership base of eight million IT practitioners. Local developers can simply log on to www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks and sign up for free.
IBM executive Iris Hester Tan-Chiu said IBM Philippines will be collaborating with different universities to actively engage them to use the site. "It is an IBM corporation initiative, not just a local initiative," she said. - David Dizon, abs-cbnNEWS.com
Source URL:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/technology/07/03/09/ibm-developer-portal-targets-pinoy-it-community
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Pinoy entertainers close to Jackson mourn his death
Several Filipino entertainers in the US who were close to the family of Michael Jackson deeply mourned the death of the King of Pop.
Among those grief-stricken are the members of the Front Page Band that Jackson’s father, Joe, used to manage.
“The Jackson family, Mr. Jose Jackson is a very loving man, that's why it hits home a little bit because we know them very well,” said Front Page Band member Jennifer Michaels.
The Front Page Band is the only all-Filipino band that was able to perform at Jackson’s Neverland home.
"In fact, medyo extra sad to us, it’s a little more than that, and we’ve been with them a lot, si Katherine saka yung mga brother niya," said another Front Page Band member Bobby Bagabaldo.
Meanwhile, Cocoy Escueta, a former member of the Society of Seven is a Michael Jackson impersonator in Las Vegas. The 35-year-old Escueta is now a lounge singer.
"It’s really hard to put this in a sentence. As long as his music is there, his legacy is there, which also show that he is a living legend, he is timeless," said Escueta.
Escueta, who has been collecting Michael Jackson memorabilia, said that he became a popular impersonator because of the King of Pop.
Meanwhile, singer Lani Misalucha and Jackson’s friend Earl Turner still could not believe that the genius who introduced the “moonwalk” is now gone.
“Parang ang feeling ko hindi pa dapat, na parang huwag muna ngayon parang di pa ine-expect,” Misalucha said.
"It's a tremendous loss not only in the industry but to the world," said Turner. Report from Bev Llorente, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau correspondent
Source URL:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/06/27/09/pinoy-entertainers-close-jacksons-family-mourns-his-death
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Paypal upgrades protection for Pinoy Ebay users
MANILA - PayPal is launching new protection for its eBay sellers in the Philippines and the entire Asia-Pacific region that will guard against potential high-risk transactions and unauthorized payments,
In an e-mail interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com, PayPal South East Asia and India general manager Mario Shiliashki said the Asia Pacific is PayPal’s fastest growing region, with 12 million accounts as this year. He said Paypal processed more than $4 billion of total payment volume in Asia Pacific in 2008, an increase of 56 percent from 2007.
Shiliashki said the new protection system will guard Ebay sellers from potential scammers who make unauthorized Paypal payments using someone else's credit card, bank account or Paypal account.
"When this happens, PayPal places a hold on the funds until it determines if the funds are unauthorized. If the payment is unauthorized, the funds are returned to the legitimate buyer's account. As part of PayPal’s seller protection launch, eBay sellers are now protected against unauthorized payments when they provide shipping documentation," he said.
He said the new Paypal system also enables users to pay without disclosing their financial information with sellers or other third parties. He said PayPal sends an email confirmation of every account transaction. "If a user received confirmation of a transaction it doesn’t recognize, PayPal’s customer support team will help sort the situation.If a user believes an unauthorized payment has been sent from their account, the user can file an unauthorized claim through PayPal," he said.
Shiliashki said Paypal is ever vigilant against credit fraud by conducting 24/7 transaction monitoring, sophisticated anti-fraud risk models, a stringent verification process and an experienced team of over 2000 anti-fraud experts,. He said Paypal has maintained a loss rate of 0.32 percent in the first quarter of 2009 due to fraud.
He said the company also provides buyers and sellers with resources to educate themselves on ways to stay safe online, including educational materials on how to reduce fraud, tips to help protect their identities from fraudsters and ways to spot phishing e-mails.
Source URL:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/technology/06/26/09/paypal-upgrades-protection-pinoy-ebay-users
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Pinoy albums now on iTunes
FILIPINOS in the United States who want to listen to their favorite local acts need not to wait for their albums to be available on record stores or ask their relatives to send them copies. That is because they can now download their songs and full albums via iTunes.
Tony Award winner and Broadway star Lea Salonga, magestar Sharon Cuneta, balladeer Ariel Rivera and comedian Joey de Leon make up the lists of top local artists whose singles can be downloaded for $.99 per song or their full album for .99. One can also choose from the wide catalog of Sony Music Philippines’ artists: from legendary bands Eraserheads, Wolfgang, Razorback, The Dawn, South Border, Greyhoundz, Color It Red; today’s hottest bands – 6cyclemind, Callalily, Cueshe, Pupil, Itchyworms, Brownman Revival, Duster, Roots of Nature and Letter Day Story; to current local stars like KC Concepcion, Lovi, Gloc9, Gian Magdangal and Jimmy Bondoc.
Source URL:
http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=48319
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Pinoy tries out for NBA D-League
MANILA - Pinoy basketball player Japeth Aguilar is now in Los Angeles and is in the thick of tryouts for the National Basketball Association Developmental League (D-League).
Aguilar’s journey in the United States was first reported by ABS-CBN News in 2007 when he officially became the first homegrown Pinoy to be recruited by a Division 1 basketball team from the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
After a couple of offers, Aguilar chose Western Kentucky University (WKU).
Aguilar rose in the local basketball scene as a 6’9’’ hotshot rookie of Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
He, however, only played one season and opted to try his luck in the US NCAA where he felt he could reach his maximum potential and even get a shot at making the NBA.
But in the two years he had on the line-up of WKU, he was hampered by foot injuries, limiting his exposure and eventually his growth as a basketball player.
Despite this, Aguilar still had a good experience with the team as WKU entered the sweet 16 and round of 8 in the NCAA national tournament. He was also teammates with Orlando Magic’s star rookie, Courtney Lee.
Now that Japeth has graduated from WKU, he has wide open doors waiting for him in the PBA and even the RP team.
But as of now, he wants to try his luck in the NBA through the D-League.
“This is really an opportunity for the players to come to one location in front of all our coaches, a lot of our scouts, league office people who'll eventually sign the players to contracts,” Chris Alpert told the ABS-CBN News North America Bureau.
Alpert is the vice president of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League.
He added that the D-League is “an opportunity for them to showcase their skills to show what they can possibly do in the NBA D-League level.”
Aguilar, meanwhile, shared, “This experience is really good. You get a chance to compete with other people that are trying to make it to the next level too.”
“You know they are going to give it their best. You can see how you compare yourself to them,” he said of other NBA D-League hopefuls.
He added, “It's going to be hard but it's not going to be impossible. This is just a stepping-stone. I've already spoken to a lot of teams. Hopefully, I can do well.”
In fact, an NBA scout has already spotted the potential and athleticism of Aguilar.
“He's got a lot of potential. Athletically, he can run with the best big mans out there,” said Hernando Planell, scout for NBA Director of Scouting Services Marty Blake.
“He's long, athletic. He's great. He had a block shot on a three pointer earlier. I think those are things that are definitely going to help him,” added Plannel.
He continued, “Athleticism is the key to the game. Whether it's international or the NBA so I think he has the potential to do some damage.”
A lot of people agree that given the time and exposure, Aguilar sure has a good shot at being the first Pinoy to make it to the NBA.
For the meantime, Aguilar is set to return to the Philippines to join the RP team for the Jones Cup in July and FIBA-Asia men’s championship in August.
Source URL:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/06/23/09/pinoy-tries-out-nba-d-league
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Globe, Seanet launches maritime SIM with lowest rates for Pinoy seafarers
Globe strengthens its role as the dependable ally of overseas Filipinos with the launch of the Globe-Seanet Maritime SIM offering the most affordable rates to the Filipino seafarer and his family.
The Globe-Seanet SIM launched in partnership with Seanet Maritime Communications AB, an innovative maritime network operator in Sweden, offers the cheapest all-day rate for GSM voice and SMS roaming services making it competitive with prevailing maritime calling services.
The service allows Filipino and non-Filipino seafaring crew members and even tourist cruise pasengers to call and text their loved ones here in the Philippines with very affordable rates.
The SIM works on Seanet’s on-board technology which allows the seafarer to use his cellphone to call or text while at sea with no special handset required like a satellite phone. It will also make it easier for seafarers to buy load as they can also purchase prepaid cellphone load inside the ship.
According to Seanet Chief Executive Officer Klas Lundgren, the Globe-Seanet SIM service provides significant contribution to crew welfare as they are given a cost-efficient means to communicate while on board. “Personal communication using a personal device, rather than a shared phone on the bridge has significant integrity advantages,” Lundgren said.
This was confirmed by Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. “It is essential for the Filipino crew to be able to communicate easily while at sea.
That is why Globe continuously comes up with various products and services that will ensure every overseas Filipino, including seafarers, will remain connected to their families especially those who are on Globe or TM network at very inexpensive rates," Cu said.
Globe currently has many international products for overseas Filipinos worldwide. Through Globe’s worldwidest services and partnerships with top telecom companies abroad, Globe enriches lives by keeping Filipinos connected with their loved ones back home through our easy, relevant, and affordable international calling, texting, and reloading products.
For more information on Globe’s services for Filipinos worldwide, log-on to www.globekababayan.com.ph.
Source URL:
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/207707/globe-seanet-launches-maritime-sim-with-lowest-rates-pinoy-seafarers
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