Program: 5th CSP Visayas-Mindanao Research Conference, Cebu City

Photo Caption: University of San Jose-Recoletos (Basak Campus) in Cebu City, venue of the 5th Computing Society of the Philippines (CSP) Visaya - Mindanao Research Conference. Photo taken by Raffy Saldana on January 18, 2008.

5th CSP Visayas-Mindanao Research Conference
January 18, 2008, USJ-R, Basak, Cebu City
Organized by the Computing Society of the Philippines (CSP)
Hosted by the University of San Jose-Recoletos (Basak Campus), Cebu Cite
E-mail: computingsoc@gmail.com, Website: http://www.csp.org.ph

PROGRAMME

08:00 – 09:00 am Registration

09:00 – 09:30 am Welcome/Opening Remarks Dr. Gregg Victor Gabison (Dean, CICCT, USJ-R, Cebu City)

Message from the CSP President Dr. Jaime Caro (University of the Philippines-Diliman / CSP)

09:30 – 10:20 am Research Talks: Dr. Rafael Saldaña (Ateneo de Manila University / CSP)
1. Research on Grid Computing
and Biomedical Applications
2. A Guide to CSP Research Publications

10:20 – 10:40 am Coffee Break

10:40 – 11:10 am IPTraf: Open Source Traffic Analyzer by Dr. Gerard Java (MOZCOM)

11:10 – 11:40 am Bi directional interface for mobile phones by Chris Aliac (Cebu Institute of Technology)

11:40 – 12:10 pm Probabilistic Speech Recognition for Tagalog Lecture Videos
by Chuchi Montenegro

12:10 – 01:30 pm Lunch Break

01:30 – 02:00 pm CocoMedic by Mar Gonzales

02:00 – 02:30 pm College of Computer Studies, Southwestern
University Online Information System by Rachille Segundo

02:30 – 03:00 pm Development of Reversed Biped Robot by Rafran de Villa

03:00 – 03:30 pm A Prototype Spreadsheet-Based Decision
Support System for Faculty Scheduling by Jovelyn Cuizon

03:30 – 04:00 pm Expert System's Evaluation of Student Learning
Performance by Dr. Elmer Maravillas

04:00 – 04:30 pm Dumaguete E-Traveller: A Knowledge-
Based Decision Support System by Dave Marcial

04:30 – 05:30 pm CSP Visayas-Mindanao Meeting with Dr. Caro and Dr. Saldaña

Emcee: Mr. Roderick Bandalan


NOTE:

I am now in Cebu City for the 5th Computing Society of the Philippines (CSP) Visayas-Mindanao Research Conference in ICT. Jimmy (Dr. Jaime Caro of the University of the Philippines-Diliman) and I are th guest speakers. Our host is Dr. Gregg Gabison, Dean of the College of Information, Computer and Commnications Technology of the University of San Jose Recoletos-Basak Campus in Cebu City.


Cheers,

Raffy
1/18/08

ICT4Health 2008: International Symposium On ICT For Health

Photo Caption: Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) is located in Katipunan Avenue,

Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Photo by Raffy Saldaña.

Background:

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has an important role in healthcare delivery, especially in many developing countries and communities.

The International Symposium on ICT For Health (ICT4Health 2008) aims to provide a forum for research and information exchange among healthcare practitioners, ICT professionals, researchers, faculty, students and various institutions engaged in ICT and Health (academia, government, industry, NGOs, etc.)

It will be held on February 29 to March 1, 2008 in the Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

ICT4Health 2008 will be held in conjunction with the 4th ONCO-MEDIA Project Meeting in Asia. ONCO-MEDIA (http://www.onco-media.com/) is international research collaboration on biomedical applications of Grid technology funded by the ICT Asia Regional Program of the French Government. The aim of ONCO-MEDIA project is to deploy a medical image semantic content-based application on a large scale grid test bed, by taking into account the context of the user and of the navigation / query and by matching semantic visual concepts extracted from the medical image with those (textual) extracted from the associated medical reports.

ICT4Health 2008 will also feature a Workshop on Apoptosis (Cancer).

Topics:

ICT4Health 2008 will include (but is not limited to) the following topics:

• Bioinformatics
• Biomedical Applications of Grid Computing
• Biomedical Imaging
• Computational Methods and Algorithms for Biomedical Applications
• ICT-facilitated Collaboration in Biomedical/Health Research
• ICT in Disease Prevention and Epidemiology
• Improvement of Healthcare Delivery Through ICT
• Information Retrieval/Data Mining for Health Applications
• Medical Databases
• Medical Informatics
• Medical Ontology
• Mobile and Wireless Applications for Health
• Modeling and Simulation in Medicine
• Using ICT in Remote Consultation, Diagnosis and Treatment
• Using ICT to Improve Public Health Systems
• Using ICT to Improve Medical Health Facilities
  

For more information, contact:

Dr. Rafael P. Saldaña
Convenor, ICT4Health 2008
c/o Grid and High Performance Computing Group
School of Science and Engineering
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108
PHILIPPINES
Telephone Numbers: (+63 2) 4266125, (+63 2) 7090907
Fax.: (+63 2) 4266125
Mobile: +63 928 5043121
E-mail: ict4health@gmail.com
Website: http://www.math.admu.edu.ph/ict4health/

Other Links:

• Call For Papers
• Registration
• Ateneo de Manila University
  

Monash University Accident Research Centre: Preventing Injury, Saving Lives

(Figure Caption: Logo of the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC). Source: http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/)

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While searching for previous work that I did that is related to ICT (Information and Communications Technology) for Health, I chanced upon the website of Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

I was a research assistant in MUARC several years ago. One of the studies that I was involved in is related to injury prevention. See http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc036.html

Below is the title and abstract of our report on injury prevention in Victoria (one of the states of Australia):

Nonfatal Injuries in Victoria: an overview
Monash University Accident Research Centre - Report #36 - 1992
Authors: J. Langlois, C. Hawkins, M. Penny, I. Brumen & R. Saldana
Full report in .pdf format [4.6MB]

Abstract:

This report provides a basic overview of non-fatal injuries in Victoria resulting in hospital admission and those presenting to the emergency departments of hospitals participating in the Victorian Injury Surveillance System (VISS). For hospitalized injuries, an overview is presented of the leading causes, frequencies, age- and sex- specific rates and yearly trends. The causes of non-admitted presentations to VISS hospitals are provided to allow comparisons with injury hospitalizations for the under 15 years age group. The report recommends more detailed studies of the epidemiology of injuries to adolescents, young adults and Victorians in the middle years. It also recommends that further research efforts should focus on using these and other injury data as baseline data for setting injury prevention goals and for monitoring the effects of interventions.

Invitation: CSP Visayas-Mindanao Research Conference

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

The Computing Society of the Philippines (CSP) invites you to participate in the 5th Visayas Mindanao Research Conference (VMRC 2008), on January 18 (8:00 am Friday), 2008 at the AV Room of the St. Ezekiel Moreno Bldg, USJ-R Basak Campus, Cebu City.

The CSP organizes this conference to enable Filipino educators, researchers, and ICT professionals and students to interact and to share their work in computing, computer science, computer engineering, computational science, and information and communications technology (ICT) education.

The conference features special lectures by prominent researchers and educators in the field of information and communications technology (including computing, computer science, computer engineering, computational science, ICT education and related disciplines) .

It also features contributed research papers on computing and ICT.Conference Fee: P250.00

God Speed and Adelante !!

For CSP Visayas-Mindanao Chapter,

Gregg Victor Gabison, Ph.D.
Assoc. Professor
Dean, CICCTIT Administrator
University of San Jose-Recoletos
Tel No. 6332-4179500 Loc 103
St. Ezekiel Moreno Bldg
Basak CampusCebuCity
Philippines
http://www.usjr. edu.ph/

Program: (Tentative)

Friday, January 18 , 2008
Venue: St. Ezekiel Moreno Bldg AV Room, USJ-R Basak Campus

8:00 – 9:00 am Registration
9:00 – 9:15 Opening
9:15 – 10:00 "Writing Research Papers for ICT Journals (PCJ and PITJ)," Dr Rafael Saldaña
10:00 – 10:20 Coffee Break
10:20 – 11:00 Research Presentation
11:00 -- 11:40 Research Presentation
11:40 – 12:50 Lunch
1:00 – 3:30 Afternoon Sessions
3:30 – 4:00 Break
4:00 – 5:30 CSP Business Meeting with Dr. Jaime Caro (CSP President)

PSHS AA Board Members (2008)

OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PSHS AA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Butch Zaldarriaga, Batch '80, Chairman
Eric Domingo, Batch 85 Vice-Chairman
Yeyet Diaz, Batch '84, Executive Secretary
Raffy Saldaña, Batch '77, Asst. Secretary
Tina Jardolin, Batch '84, Treasurer
Joyce Simpas, Batch '92, Asst. Treasurer
Susan Warren-Mercado, Batch '78 PRO
Jocelyn Sanchez-Mendoza, Batch '78 Auditor

Jun Sabug, Batch '69
Carlo Subido, Batch '82

Jubilarian Batch Representatives:

Gladys Barrer, Batch '83
Raymund Ancog, Batch '88
Abigail Serrano, Batch '93
Ma. Elena Dacanay, Batch '98
Pio Esguerra, Batch '03

Board Adviser: Ciel Habito, Batch '70


More photos of the Officers and Members of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Alumni Association Board of Directors for 2008 are available at

http://booleanlogic.multiply.com/photos/album/68

Cheers,

Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger

Induction, PSHS Alumni Association Board of Directors 2008

Photo caption: Induction of Officers and Members of the PSHS Alumni Association Board of Directors 2008 held last January 11, 2008 in Makati City.

Last January 11, 2008 the Philippine Science High School Alumni Association Board of Directors (BOD) 2008 had its Induction and First BOD Meeting at the Murano Room, The Tower Club, Philam Life Tower, Makati City.

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Special guests include Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecratary Fortunato de la Peña, PSHS Foundation Chairman Alberto Muyot, and PSHS Main Campus OIC Director Jessamyn Yazon.

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One of the highlights of the meeting is the Business Plan presentation for 2008 by PSHS AA Chairman Caesar "Butch" Zaldarriaga.

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Congratulations to my fellow officers and members of Board of Directors of the PSHS Alumni Association!

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From,

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Raffy

The Pisay '77 Blogger

DepEd-Intel Philippine Science Fair

Photo caption: Members of the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) of the DepEd-Intel Philippine Science Fair (IPSF) are shown during a meeting held last January 5, 2008 at the Department of Education (DepEd), Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

The Intel Philippine Science Fair (IPSF) is an annual and nationwide competition among high school students with the mission of promoting science and technology to the youth through research or investigatory projects.

IPSF used to be organized by the Department of Science and Technology Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI). However, starting schoolyear 2006-2007 the Department of Education (DepEd) replaced DOST-SEI in organizing the event.

This schoolyear (2007-2008) the IPSF will be held on February 14-16, 2008 (The exact venue is still to be announced).

Prior to holding the IPSF, each region in the Philippines holds a regional science fair. Each science fair has two divisions: (1) Life Science and (2) Physical/Applied Science. Each division has two clusters: cluster 1 and cluster 2. Cluster 1 includes public schools and non-science high schools while cluster 2 includes regional DepED science high schools and other science high schools under the DOST (for example, Philippine Science High School). Each cluster has two categories: (1) individual and (2) team.

Winners in regional science fairs are eligible to compete in the national level - the Intel Philippines Science Fair (IPSF) which is usually held in February of each year. It is in the IPSF where the Philippine entries to the International Science and Engineering Fairs (ISEF) are selected.

The ISEF is an annual international event sponsored by Intel and held in the United States of America (USA). Several countries all over the world participate in ISEF.

I have been a Grand Awards Judge in ISEF on two occassions: (1) in the ISEF held in Cleveland, Ohio, USA in May 2003 and (2) in the ISEF held in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA in May 2006.

I have also been a member of the Board of Judges (BOJ) in the IPSF since schoolyear 2003-2004. This schoolyear (2006-2008) I am both a member of the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and the Board of Judges (BOJ) of the IPSF.

Last January 5, 2008, members of the Scientific Review Committee of IPSF met at the Dep-Ed main building in Pasig City to evaluate entries to the 2007-2008 DepED-Intel Philippine Science Fair. I belong to the SRC of projects under Physical/Applied Sciences division, cluster 1, individual category.

Our group evaluated the following entries:


1. "The Design, Construction and Evaluation of an Environment-Friendly Fruit Ripener with Gliricidia sepium (Kakauati) as an Additive", Jan Noriel Ines, Sinait National High School, Sinait, Ilocos Sur (Region 1)

2. "MORH: Jedoque Process of Increasing the Compressive Strenght and Lessening the Water Absorbency of Hollow Blocks", Jed Sidney T. Oliva Ballesteros National High School, Ballesteros, Cagayan, (Region 2)

3. "Construction and Testing of an Enclosed One-Pot Metal Rice Husk Fuelled Cooking Stove", Remundo Pena, Olongapo City National High School, Olongapo City (Region 3)

4. "Extraction of Silver from Used X-ray Films", Hia Cherylou D. Lecaroz, Joseph Marello Institute, San Juan, Batangas (Region 4a)

5. "Gabi Boom Spill", Mark Anthony C. Leido, San Teodoro National High School, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro (Region 4b)

6. "Improvised, Flexible Magnetic Motor Control with Energy-saver for Single and Three-Phase Motors", Je Enate Deocampo, Capiz National High School, Roxas City, Capiz (Region 5)

7. "Power Color Combination: Homemade Water Color", Joerme T. Olivar, Faraon National High School, Jagna, Bohol (Region 7)

8. "Chlorine-Free Handmade Paper from Musa sapientum (Banana) leaves", Misamis Occidental National High School, Oroqueta City (Region 10)

9. "S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa as Bioindicators in Determining the Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Intensities", Kimberly M. Abay, La Filipina National High School, Tagum City (Region 11)

10. "Utilization of Chicken Feathers as Fiberglass Creation", Jeffrey Celso Mari M. Rafael, The Quantum Academy, General Santos City (Reg. 12)

11. "Semiconducting Property of NaCl doped Green Mussel (Perna viridis) Shells: An Innovation for Organic Semiconductor Systems", Jessel Fatima D. Cane, Bayugan National Comprehensive High School, Bayugan City (CARAGA Region)

12. "Natural Antifungal Mango Fruit Ripener", Geneva Dupali, Saint Tonis College (High School), Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga, ( CAR )

13. "A Novel Voltaic Battery from Jatropha Curcas Fruit", Celerina M. Garcia, Tondo High School, Manila ( NCR )

The criteria for the scientific review of IPSF projects include the following:

1. Completeness (completed forms, signature and date: a. complete, b. incomplete)
2. Evidence of use of reference materials (a.adequate. b. inadequate)
3. Evidence of proper laboratory supervision (a. Yes, b. No, c. Needs certifications/data book)
4. Use of accepted research techniques
5. Use of pathogenic organisms, hazardous substances and devices/disposal of wastes (proper/improper)
6. Status of investigatory project (a. original concept of study -- does not violate intellectual property rights, b. with innovation, c. with violation found, d. needs changes/improvement, e. continuation of project)
7. Overall evaluation of project (a. approved, b. disapproved, c. conditional)

Before And After (47 Years)

Today (1/9/08) I looked at my old photos and I saw my baby picture taken during my baptism (binyag) in 1961. Then, I had an idea to compile a solo picture of me since I was a baby until now -- a span of 47 years.

The picture on the left hand side was taken in January 1961 while the photo on the right hand side was taken on January 4, 2008.

Looking at my baby picture, I can see that I have a big face, chinky eyes, and a flat nose :)

I wonder how I will look like 10 or 20 years from now?

Cheers,

Raffy

The Pisay '77 Blogger

Reminder: PCSC 2008 Deadlines (8th Philippine Computing Science Congress)

Dear Colleagues:

Please be reminded that the DEADLINE for contributed paper submission to the 8th Philippine Computing Science Congress (PCSC 2008) is on Tuesday, January 15, 2008.

Also, the deadline for the submission of PCSC 2008 Pre-Registration forms is on February 16, 2008.

PCSC 2008 will be held in the University of the Philippines-Diliman on February 23-24, 2008.

Please visit the Computing Society of the Philippines (CSP) website, http://www.csp.org.ph/, for details.

Thank you.

Sincerely,


Dr. Rafael P. Saldaña
Chair
Scientific Program Committee
PCSC 2008Mobile: 0928-5043121
Telephones: (02) 4266125, (02) 7090907
E-mail: raffysaldana@gmail.com

------------------------------------------------------------

EXCERPT FROM THE PCSC 2008 WEBSITE:

(http://www.csp.org.ph/)


Contributed papers for PCSC 2008 should follow the formatting guidelines based on the ACM Word Template ( http://www.math.admu.edu.ph/~raf/pcsc07/cspformat.doc ). These papers will be peer-reviewed, and if accepted, they will be published in the Proceedings of the 8th Philippine Computing Science Congress (PCSC 2008). Qualified papers will be considered for publication in the Philippine Computing Journal (PCJ), the official journal of the Computing Society of the Philippines.

Submit papers to the CSP Secretariat ( computingsoc@gmail.com ), Tel./Fax (02) 426-6125.

Important Dates:

Deadline for PCSC 2008 paper submission January 15, 2008
Notification of acceptance January 27, 2008
Deadline for Registration Payment for Paper Contributors
February 16, 2008
Deadline for Submission of Pre-registration Forms
February 16, 2008
Conference February 23-24, 2008

Registration Fee:

PhP 2,500 (regular, non-student, walk-in)
2,000 (regular, non-student, pre-registered)
1,500 (non-student author of accepted paper)
1,500 (non-author currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students, walk-in)
1,250 (non-author currently enrolled students, pre-registered)
1,000 (student author, currently enrolled)

Notes:

1.The registration fee includes free membership to CSP for the year 2008 (subject to the approval of the CSP membership committee)
2. It does not include transportation and accommodation expenses.
3.It includes a conference kit, PCSC 2008 CD Proceedings, a copy of the Philippine Computing Journal, snacks, lunch, conference welcome drinks, and a certificate of participation.
4. Pre-registration is required. Walk-in participants will have to pay a surcharge. Pre-registration forms must be received on or before February 16, 2008. Send an e-mail to computingsoc@gmail.com or call (02) 7090907 for registration payment details.

For more information, contact:

PCSC 2008 Executive Committee:

Rafael Saldaña, Ph.D.
Chair,
Scientific Program Committee,
PCSC 2008
c/o Ateneo de Manila University
Tel./Fax.: (02) 709-0907
E-mail:raffysaldana@gmail.com

Jaime Caro, Ph.D.
CSP President
c/o University of the Philippines-Diliman
Tel./Fax.: (02) 920-2636
E-mail: jdlcaro@gmail.com

Caslon Chua, Ph.D.
Over-all Chair, PCSC 2008
c/o De La Salle University
Tel./Fax.: (02) 536-0276
E-mail: chuacl@dlsu.edu.ph

(Note: Cut the portion below and send to the CSP Secretariat.)

PRE-REGISTRATION FORM

THE SECRETARIAT
PCSC 2008
c/o Rm. 317, Mathematics Department
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108
Philippines
Tel./Fax.: +63 2 4266125
E-mail: computingsoc@gmail.com
Website: http://www.csp.org.ph/

(Put a check mark corresponding to your choice/s.)

__ I would like to participate in the 8th Philippine Computing Science Congress (PCSC 2008) on February 23-24, 2008.

Full Name:
Affiliation:
Position:
Mailing Address:
Tel./Fax.:
Mobile Phone:
E-mail Address:

__________________________________

MODE OF PAYMENT:

1. If paying via cheque, make cheque payable to: COMPUTING SOCIETY OF THE PHILIPPINES

2. Registration payments may be made through the CSP's bank account in BANCO DE ORO.

Below are the details:

Name: COMPUTING SOCIETY OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC.
Bank: BANCO DE ORO
Branch: Loyola Heights - Katipunan, Quezon City
Savings Account Number: 3570008929

NOTES:

1. Any bank charges should be charged to the payor and not to CSP.

2. Keep a copy of your bank transaction as proof of payment.

3. Notify Dr. Rafael Saldaña [ E-mail: raffysaldana@gmail.com ,
Mobile: 0928-5043121, Phone: (02) 7090907, Fax: (02) 7090907 ]
about the details of your payment (total amount, for how many persons, date and time payment was deposited, and name of Banco De Oro branch.

'Sing Along' With Caloy (Dr. Carlo Arcilla)

During our high school batch's (Philippine Science High School Class of 1977) mini-reunion last January 4, 2008 my batchmate Caloy (Dr. Carlo Arcilla, Director of the National Institute of Gelogical Sciences, University of the Philippines-Diliman) brought a guitar and our group sang with Caloy, singing mostly songs from the '70s.

One of the songs that Caloy sang was 'Our House' by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Here is the link to a video clip of Caloy (and our group) singing 'Our House': http://booleanlogic.multiply.com/video/item/11/Caloy_and_Our_House

Below are the lyrics of the song:


I'll light the fire
You put the flowers in the vase
That you bought today

Staring at the fire
For hours and hours
While I listen to you
Play your love songs
All night long for me
Only for me

Come to me now
And rest your head for just five minutes
Everything is good
Such a cozy room

The windows are illuminated
By the sunshine through them
Fiery gems for you
Only for you

Our house is a very, very fine house
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy'Cause of you
And our la,la,la, la,la, la, la, la, la, la, la.....

Our house
is a very, very fine house
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy
'Cause of you
And Our

I'll light the fire
And you place the flowers in the jar
That you bought today

Source: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/mygirl2/ourhouse.htm

Cheers,

Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger

PSHS '77 Jan. 4 Reunion: More Photos

Thirty years after graduating from high school, we members of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Class of 1977 are still actively involved in helping Pisay or PSHS.

Below is a link to more photos taken during our latest reunion (January 4, 2008 in Valle Verde, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines):

http://booleanlogic.multiply.com/photos/album/63

Note: Try the 'Slideshow' option.

Also, see: http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2008/01/pshs-77-new-years-mini-reunion.html

Cheers,

Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger

PSHS '77: New Year's Mini-Reunion

Photo Caption: 1st Row (L-R): Fidel Borja, Mary Verdure-Tolentino, Eva Ratilla, Tess Castillo, Emy Liwag, Iye Coronel-Ferrer, Jess Yazon, Marcie Samaniego-Atienza, Ricky Lim. 2nd Row (L-R): Mon Jocson, Raf Saldaña, Alvin Matos, Mon Duremdes, Butch Reyes, Pempe Calderon, Rolly Bañez, L. B., Caloy Arcilla, Mon Castillo, Rene Abad, Keku Domingo, Vivian Amandy, Cora Juguilon-Jasminez, Fe Santos-Dayco, Claire Farolan-Martinez.

Last Night (1/4/07) our high school batch, Philippine Science High School Class of 1977, had a mini-renunion at the residence of our batchmate Mon Jocson [ former President of IBM Philippines and currently VP for Asia (e-commerce) of IBM] in Valle Verde, Pasig City.

One-fifth of our batch were present.

We had lots of fun and we felt like (and acted like) high school students again :)

One of our batchmates, Caloy Arcilla (who is now the director of the National Institute of Geological Sciences at the University of the Philippines) brought his guitar and rendered a mini-concert. We sang several songs from the '70s.

It's hard to believe that after 30 years, we are still together and working for a common cause.

Long live PSHS '77 !

Cheers,

Raffy
The Pisay '77 Blogger
(http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/)

Beautiful Sunrise in Banaue

This morning (1/3/08) I saw a beautiful sunrise from my room in Banaue Hotel (Banaue, Ifugao Province, Philippines). From 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., the sun finally appeared after several days of "hiding" (it has been a wet and foggy weather in Banaue over the past few days). However, after the brief sunrise, the weather became cloudy, foggy, and wet again : (

I had a good rest at the hotel after a back-breaking jeepney (local transport) ride from Sagada, to Bontoc, to Banaue.

In the afternoon I went to the Banaue museum to see some Ifugao artifacts and photos. The Banaue Museum is a private museum and is a short walking distance from the town center.

Cheers,

Raffy
1/03/07
in Banaue, Ifugao Province, Philippines

Photo Source and Related Link: http://www.philtourism.com/bhyh_desc.html

Trip To Sagada (December 2007)

On December 28, 29, 30, and 31, 2007 my French colleagues and I visited Sagada in Mountain Province, Philippines.

Sagada is a small tourist town north of Luzon. This was my third time to be in Sagada (my first was in 1987 and my second was in 1997).

From Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila we took a Victory Liner bus going to Baguio City (in Benguet Province) at 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 28. The trip from Quezon City to Baguio City was around 6 hours. From Baguio City we took another bus (in Dangwa terminal) to Sagada, and the trip was about 7 hours.

In Sagada, we stayed at St. Joseph's Resthouse Cottages (a very nice place owned by the Episcopalian Church).

There are many things to see and do in Sagada. On Dec. 29, our group went trekking along rice paddies going to Bokong waterfalls. On the way back to Sagada town center, we passed by Masferre Photographs gallery, Sagada Weaving Center, St. Theodore's Hospital, and St. Mary's Episcopal Church. From the church, we went to the town cemetery and proceeded to the Echo Valley where we saw big rock formation and hanging coffins.

On Dec. 30, we visited Lumiang and Sumaging caves. In Lumiang cave we saw hundreds of traditional coffins stacked one after another. Some coffins are 200 years old.

Sumaging is a big cave. Exploring Sumaging cave is a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience. It has big rock formation and water pool. There are also plenty of fossils. We were told that thousands of years ago, the mountain town of Sagada (which is about 1,500 meters above sea level) was once submerged under the sea.

Exploring the caves of Sagada was very exhausting for me. My French colleagues proceeded on a trekking trip to Lake Danom (more than one hour from Sagada town proper) while I got to St. Joseph's Resthouse Cottages.

Cheers,

Raffy

Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagada

Related Links:

• http://www.aenet.org/ifugao/sagada.htm


• http://www.pbase.com/bruceglick/sagadabagio


• http://www.tourism.gov.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?content=famousefor&province=73


• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagada

A Quiet New Year's Day In The Mountain Of Banaue

Photo Caption: Famous Banaue Rice Terraces.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org

It's New Year's Day and I am here in the mountain town of Banaue, Ifugao Province, Philippines. Banaue is famous for its rice terraces which date back to thousands of years ago.

I am accompanying some French colleagues who are spending their holiday in the Philippines. I have brought them to Tagaytay City; Taal, Batangas; Taal lake and volcano; Puerto Galera, Mindoro; Baguio City; Sagada and Bontoc, Mountain Province; and Banaue, Ifugao.

The weather here in Banaue is foggy, wet and cold. I injured my shoulder during our cave exploration in Sagada two days ago. Now I am spending a quiet day here in Banaue while my French visitors headed to the Batad rice terraces -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I have not yet been to Batad. Unfortunately, Batad is still very far from Banaue and the road condition is bad. Oh well, there is always a next time :)

Happy New Year to All! May the Year of the Rat bring us peace, lots of blessings, and prosperity.

Cheers,

Raffy
1/1/08
in Banaue, Ifugao

Related Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaue_Rice_Terraces