This was shared to me by friend and outgoing instructor Adrian Salonga. The post I did during my internship at Rappler, entitled “Slow yet expensive PH Internet ‘not our fault’,” has been used as a source in our alma mater’s thesis done by IT students. With the help of Move.PH, I relayed what LIRNEasia research fellow Ms. Grace Mirandilla-Santos said to the crowd at last year’s Youth Congress on Information Technology (Y4iT) at the SMX Manila. What she said there is the same thing that’s still happening now: There’s no real competition in the country’s ISP industry. ...

I’m capping off the night by doing something to de-stress myself after three days of hosting an event at Megamall — pseudo-night photography, guys? Here are some keepsakes. Happy long weekend, guys.

…and I’m not yet even referring to the holiday season. It’s the events season indeed. From the last weekend of August going through October (or even up to December), people are expected to burn their wallets going through various major events in the Metro — more specifically in the travel city of Pasay, where the premier SMX Convention Center Manila and World Trade Center Metro Manila are located. Each of the three or so events has their own niche target : One for fans, one for the cosplayers and one for the artists. Everyone is now their own Goldilocks, seeing which event fits them just right. ...

This is a continuation of my brief trip in Taytay. On to the second leg of this year’s Misaki Cyber Con in Rizal, we see a much wider audience compared to the one held last week in Angono. Misaki Con’s been done for years, so it’s no-brainer that this is the local community event Rizaleños are waiting for — see the audience for your reference. I came into the event at around 5pm, and the SM City Taytay Event Center stage is filled with cosplayers and enthusiasts alike. ...

The flagpole at the Rosario Ocampo Elementary in Taytay, which is among the places where I grew up. It’s been more or less a year since I visited Taytay. I really liked this place — this is where I spent three years before moving to Pasig for my Grade 5. The facade of the Rosario Ocampo Elementary School, where I spent my Grades 2, 3, and 4. ...

SM Center Angono — August 14, 2016 It’s been a long time since I set foot in Angono, regarded as the country’s art capital. It’s also my first time to come to SM Center Angono to see Misaki Con. I took the opportunity as it’s held on a Sunday, and the traffic is light. One jeepney ride in an hour, and poof, I’m there. The event had a good turnout of visitors even with the bad weather. I’ve heard thirty or so cosplayers who went there. Arkadymac may have more info on them than yours truly, so let’s wait for his post. ...

It’s great to see Greenhills again. It’s been a long time since I went to Greenhills — the last time I went to San Juan doesn’t even count — and it was a good opportunity to revisit the complex after I attended a Rotary Club design seminar at Club Filipino. (Note: I was the delegate for the RC Mutya ng Pasig, District 3800) Club Filipino Speaking of Club Filipino, I only knew it as the place where President Corazon Aquino took oath as the first female president of the Philippines, but it feels similar to the Makati (Sports) Club in which I’ve visited for my work. ...

August 11, 2016 — SMX Manila I finished manning the seminar for the PRA Stores Asia Expo 2016 when I visited the SIP Expo — it’s the second time I did so — and I’m still astonished, more than ever, in the latest broadcast tech that’s there. Without further adieu, here are a plethora of photos.

₱9,500. What are the things that you can get for ₱9,500? Two smartphones (or an iPhone plan, perhaps?) One room for rent (One month advance, one month deposit). A HD TV set. A desktop computer set (you can save more by buying the parts separately and learning to assemble it one by one). A food supply that can last two months. Two to three costume sets complete with accessories. Five to seven Funko Pops if various designs. Monopod and additional accessories for your video recording rig. A refrigerator (that you can use to produce Ice Candies like that one supplier of special ice candy from Antipolo who is making waves in the MSME scene). A washing machine. A two-term course in college. Dozens of books for your library (or thousands of them on digital). Medium-risk investment funds (or stocks in rising companies). There’s a lot of things you can buy or get or invest with at that price. ...

These photos are taken from the FEBC Philippines studios at 43rd Floor of the One Corporate Center in Pasig, during my interview for 702 DZAS. If you want to know what I talked about, visit the Facebook page of the Philippine Business and Entrepreneurs Expo.