NDKC bags 7 championship titles in the ICT Fest 2009

Notre Dame of Kidapawan College (NDKC) once again proved its worth as one of the leading institutions in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) education in Cotabato province as it bagged seven championship titles in the recently concluded 2nd ICT Festival organized by the Department of Trade and Industry of Kidapawan and the Advocates for the Development of ICT in Cotabato Province on November 24-26, 2009.

Here are the results of the contests in which NDKC won.

1. Computer Programming Contest

• Champion - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College (Team 1)
• 1st runner-up - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College (Team 2)
• 2nd runner-up - Colegio de Kidapawan (Team 2)

2. Think Quest (Quiz Bowl)

• Champion - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 1st runner-up - University of Southern Mindanao - Kidapawan City Campus
• 2nd runner-up - Notre Dame of Midsayap College

3. Miss ICT

• Miss ICT 2009 - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 1st runner-up - STI Kidapawan
• 2nd runner-up - Read Data Access Computer College

4. Scrabble (PC-based)

• Champion - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 1st runner-up - Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology
• 2nd runner-up - University of Southern Mindanao - Main Campus

5. Graphics Design using Corel Draw

• Champion - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 1st runner-up - (I forgot)
• 2nd runner-up - (I forgot)

6. Open Blog Competition (Special Award)

• Champion - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College

7. Graphics Design using Adobe Photoshop

• Champion - North Point College of Arts and Technology
• 1st runner-up - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 2nd runner-up - Colegio de Kidapawan (I'm not sure... sorry)

8. Computer Hardware Servicing

• Champion - University of Southern Mindanao - Main Campus
• 1st runner-up - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 2nd runner-up - Read Data Access Computer College

9. Speed Typing

• Champion - University of Southern Mindanao - Main Campus
• 1st runner-up - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 2nd runner-up - (I forgot... sorry)

10. Dancesports Competition

• Champion - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 1st runner-up - University of Southern Mindanao - Main Campus
• 2nd runner-up - North Point College of Arts and Technology

The 2nd ICT Festival was participated by the following tertiary schools in the province of Cotabato.

• Central Mindanao Colleges
• Central Mindanao Computer School
• Colegio de Kidapawan
• Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology
• iLink College
• JML College of Makilala
• Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• Notre Dame of Midsayap College
• President Roxas Technical School
• Read Data Access Computer College
• Southern Baptist College
• STI - Kidapawan Campus
• University of Southern Mindanao - Kidapawan City Campus
• University of Southern Mindanao - Main Campus

Filipinos, hailed as the most savvy mobile phone users

I was surprised to know that the Filipinos already have a new title as the "most savvy mobile phone users" based on a research conducted by a global market research firm Synovate.

I read it from a news article posted in Yahoo! Philippines news and I've decided to repost it.

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Pinoys lead the world in use of phone features

Manila Bulletin - Sunday, September 20

A new report by global market research firm Synovate has found that Filipinos lead the way in the use of many mobile features among 11 countries covered by the survey.

Aside from being the world's heaviest senders of SMS or text messages, Filipinos can now claim another title in the mobile space: Most savvy users of a mobile phone.

In the study, 87 percent of the local population use the phone's alarm clock as against the global average of 67 percent. There were 8,000 total respondents.

Sixty-three percent of Filipinos also play games regularly, 48 percent listen to or download music, 44 percent watch video clips, and 13 percent even watch TV (versus an overall 5 percent).

Carole Sarthou, Synovate's managing director for the Philippines, said in a statement that the high numbers of the country can be attributed to ''cultural'' and ''circumstantial'' factors.

''It's part of the national psyche to love social connections, music and entertainment. How the Filipino love affair with the mobile is different compared to developing nations is that, in many cases, a mobile is all people have,'' she said.

''It's the only way they can listen to music, the only way they can play games and the only way they can communicate from afar. Many Filipinos use this instead of the Internet and computers and it's not surprising that it has become such a multi-purpose, multi-tasking tool,'' Sarthou added.

The survey also found that the Philippines was the closest market to being split on the issue when asked, ''If lost, which would be harder to replace... your mobile phone or wallet/purse?''

Respondents from the Philippines said 47 percent of them said their mobile phone would be harder to replace while 52 percent chose the wallet/purse.

Synovate's Sarthou said this result shows Filipinos would find the mobile difficult, or even impossible, to replace.

''The connection to other people stops when the phone is lost. It's a storehouse for photos and videos, but most vital are contact details. Filipinos seek constant connection,'' she said.

The survey also showed the Philippines coming out on top in using text in conveying potentially bad news:

• 12 percent have broken up with someone via text, led by 23 percent of Filipinos and 22 percent of both Malaysians and Russians.
• 35 percent agreed that they have hidden behind text to say no or send a difficult message, led by 49 percent of Filipinos, 48 percent of Malaysians and 47 percent of Singaporeans. Least likely to hide behind SMS are Canadians (79 percent disagree) and Americans (71 percent).
• 31 percent agreed they have lied about why they were running late or where they are, led by 57 percent of Filipinos and 44 percent of Singaporeans.

Least likely to lie via text (or so they say) are the Dutch (84 percent disagree) and the Americans (79 percent).

Synovate's global head of media, Steve Garton, said mobile phones have become so ubiquitous that by last year, more human beings owned one than did not.

''In the Philippines and Africa,'' millions of dollars have been transacted via mobile. The telco has effectively become a bank, allowing even those in rural areas to send and receive mobile money.

This is just one of the huge benefits which are changing lives in developing nations,'' he said.

EngTech's sweet victory over some not so sweet things

Congratulations to the students and officers of the Engineering and Technology (EngTech) Department of Notre Dame of Kidapawan College for bagging the over-all championship in the recently concluded Intramurals dubbed as Bioglitz '09. This is the first-ever intrams championship since the department was founded last school year. Truly, the union of the former Computer-Information and Engineering departments is a force to reckoned with.

Grabbing the top spot in a well-competed event was a bit unexpected for some faculty and students but unity coupled with a deep faith in God made the difference.

Kudos to the EngTech athletes and participants for bringing home the bacon!

Congratulations also to the officers of the Campus Student Supreme Government for organizing an event with a very timely concept that focuses on the care of our Mother Earth. I know they have experienced a lot of good and "not so good things" during the staging of this week-long activity but I hope they will learn a lot from the experience.

I would also like to recognize the efforts exerted by my friend Rizaldio "Thalia" Enemido. I know my friend Thalia had been through a lot of tests in the past intrams but I'm sure he had faced everything professionally.

My learnings

I personally have learned a lot from the past intrams. To admit, at some point I have lost control of my temper, specially during the opening day when I scolded the lady representative of ShirtGate(Davao) for not delivering the cheerdance costumes and some jerseys of the EngTech department and also during the Dancesports competition night when I loudly protested some of the decisions of the judges.

On the Dancesports Issue

I know I went beyond with some of my comments. I would like to extend my apology to Brian Porras, the LA governor and to his dance partner. I believe Maam Gabrido had already explained why a lot of people are not in favor of the results of the contest except for the Accountancy dancers who are deserving champions. However, I am still holding on my "opinion" that the EngTech, Commerce, and Education departments performed better than the LA pair. I am sharing the same sentiments with a "lot" of people, most of which are dancesport enthusiasts (including some teachers).

Past is past. I have nothing against Brian, his partner, and the judges. I am not even questioning the credibility of the judges. I just hope that next time we will be reminded of the value of "delicadeza".

I remember few years ago when I invited Mrs. Anita Fe Gaviola to be one of the judges in the ICT Fest hosted by NDKC. She turned down my invitation because her husband is the President of one of the participating schools. She also told me that even if she had already accepted the invitation before the school being run by her husband joined the festival, she would still not allow issues to float by backing out as a judge.

On the word sportsmanship

Some may say that I have forgotten the true meaning of sportsmanship. But I believe sportsmanship doesn't mean being blind with some obvious irregularities of the game.

Again, congratulations to all of us specially to the EngTech, Commerce and Accountancy Departments for bagging the top three spots.

Untitled Blog

I honestly do not know what to post. I first thought of being academic by posting something about the subjects I teach but I can't even hit the first key of my notebook. I even thought of blogging some good and not so good things that happened in the past NDKC intramurals but I really do not know how to start.

Well, most probably I am just bothered of the news that I received at lunch time. That news about an event that will happen next week will completely spoil the "celebration" that I have long been hoping for. I even consider it more important than my own birthday because I rarely celebrate it.

I am not blaming anyone. Someone even told me that it might be rescheduled but still I cannot resist myself from feeling bad because it might just blow up everything. God! I do not know what to say. I am just wondering....

1. Am I unfair?
2. Am I too bad?
3. Am I difficult to love?
4. Am I worthless?
5. Am I just a toy?
6. Am I not worthy to love and be loved?
7. What is happening?
8. Why does things most of the time go against what I hope it would be?
9. Why am I alone?
10. Why is time so unreasonable?

I hope time will give me the answers.

NDKC bags three championships

The Notre Dame of Kidapawan College once again proved its worth in the recently concluded 1st Inter-collegiate activity dubbed as Holi 2009 held last August 21, 2009.

Pop Dance Contest

• Champion - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 1st runner-up - University of Southern Mindanao - Kidapawan City Campus
• 2nd runner-up - North Valley College Foundation, Inc.

Picture Critique

• Champion - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• 1st runner-up - University of Southern Mindanao - Kidapawan City Campus
• 2nd runner-up - (i forgot)

Search for Ambassador of Goodwill 2009

• Ambassador of Goodwill 2009 - Notre Dame of Kidapawan College (Joerem Jamilarin)
• 1st runner-up - University of Southern Mindanao - Kidapawan City Campus
• 2nd Runner-up - North Valley College Foundation, Inc.

In the search for Ambassadress of Goodwill, Charmaine Fajanela represented NDKC and she ranked 4th out of six participants. Charmaine also bagged the Miss Photogenic title.

Holi 2009 was participated by seven tertiary institutions from Kidapawan City.

• Central Mindanao Colleges
• Colegio de Kidapawan
• North Point College of Arts and Technology
• North Valley College Foundation, Inc.
• Notre Dame of Kidapawan College
• Read Data Access Computer College
• University of Southern Mindanao - Kidapawan City Campus

Top Performing Students in Computer Programming 1

Congratulations to the following students who topped the CS/IT 113 - Computer Programming 1 Class for the first trinal 1st semester school year 2009-2010.

         Name              Course/year  Grade   Rank

1. CUIZON, Analie S.        BSIT - 1     90%    1

2. CADERAO, Henry           BSIT - 1     88%    3
   MARTINEZ, Jennilyn S.    BSCS - 1     88%    3
   ORFRECIO, Mansour        BSIT - 1     88%    3

3. JAO, Elien P.            BSCS - 1     87%    5

4. PACATANG, Kenneth        BSIT - 1     86%    6

5. ALVAREZ, John Mark       BSIT - 1     85%    7

Thank you President Cory for the gift of democracy!

I can still remember myself watching television when I was about to turn 6 years old. I kept on asking my nanay (mama) why a lot of people are shouting in the streets wanting to oust Marcos? Who's Marcos anyway? My nanay told me that Marcos is the President or the leader of our country for twenty long years and Filipinos already want change.

I actually cannot differentiate life with Marcos and life without him because I was just starting to understand things. I was only in kindergarten then. However, the slogan that I see in TV saying "tama na, sobra na, palitan na" made me realize that most people if not all really want something to happen and that is to topple the cruel Marcos regime.

I was also curious why most people were wearing yellow raising their hands with the L sign. And again my nanay generously responded and told me that yellow is the color of Cory Aquino who is the leader that Filipinos want to replace Marcos as President. I was just starting to learn colors that time and the first two colors that I was able to identify are red (color of Marcos) and yellow (color of Cory). My mother did not know the meaning of the L sign. It was only in my elementary years I knew that L stands for "laban."

As I go down memory lane, I consider this particular event in our country's history as the very first national event that I have learned and witnessed on television as a young kid. I can even remember myself asking my nanay if we can go to EDSA to join the rally. At that time I just thought that as a playful child I will enjoy staying with a lot of people in the streets not knowing the threats to our lives had the military stayed loyal to Marcos.

Much has been said about the gifts that the Lord has given us through the lady named Maria Corazon Cojuanco-Aquino. She is truly an epitomy of grace under pressure because she was able to overcome all the obstacles in her life as a wife, a mother, grandmother, and as a leader with calmness. President Cory is indeed the "Filipino of the Century" as recognized by the Philippine Free Press. She may not be the most intelligent or ideal President because of her vulnerability but her clean governance as a result of her strong moral values, made me consider her as the best President the Philippines ever had.

Thank you President Cory for inspiring us to courageously face life despite these trying times. You are worth remembring of.