Ensuring Review Center Ethical Conduct in the First RECAP Conference

With the rise in the number of review centers in the past few years, all intent in producing highly qualified professionals, the Review Center Association of the Philippines (RECAP) organized its first Review Center Conference last April 17 at the Rigodon Hall of the Manila Hotel.

RECAP aims not only to serve as a uniting body for its members, but also to promote the highest possible ethical and professional standards of review centers. The organization officially launched its Code of Ethics at their first ever conference, with Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar as one of the guest speakers.

Rep. Villar discussed in her speech the status of higher education in the Philippines and its resulting impact to the review center industry.

RECAP is the first organization of review centers to be duly recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission, given accreditation on Nov. 9 of 2006. The group started with only five member review centers, but has since expanded its membership to almost 25 review centers all over the country.

Ensuring Review Center Ethical Conduct in the First RECAP Conference

With the rise in the number of review centers in the past few years, all intent in producing highly qualified professionals, the Review Center Association of the Philippines (RECAP) organized its first Review Center Conference last April 17 at the Rigodon Hall of the Manila Hotel.

RECAP aims not only to serve as a uniting body for its members, but also to promote the highest possible ethical and professional standards of review centers. The organization officially launched its Code of Ethics at their first ever conference, with Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar as one of the guest speakers.

Rep. Villar discussed in her speech the status of higher education in the Philippines and its resulting impact to the review center industry.

RECAP is the first organization of review centers to be duly recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission, given accreditation on Nov. 9 of 2006. The group started with only five member review centers, but has since expanded its membership to almost 25 review centers all over the country.

PATLS Organized National Conference for Librarians, Students

Teachers, students, librarians, as well as library support staff converged in the National Conference on Library and Information Science Education held at the Ortigas Foundation Library, Ortigas Center in Pasig City last April 13 – 14, 2009.

Organized by the Philippine Association of Teachers of Library and Information Science (PATLS), the conference aims to improve the passing rate of examinees in the licensure examination and to update teachers, students and practicing librarians on current issues and trends in the profession

During the first day of the conference, notable professors enlightened guests and participants on various topics. Ms. Perla Garcial, former De La Salle University http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/ Library Director, discussed "New Age Competencies of Library and Information Science Professionals". Dr. Allan de Guzman, 2007 Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) – Jasper Research Awardee, talked about “Integrating Education, Research and Practice”. Prof. Johann Frederick A. Cabbab, Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines School of Library and Information Studies http://www.upslis.info gave a clear connection between “Social Networking and Library Service”. Prof. Corazon Nera, Director of Libraries of Lyceum of the Philippines University – Manila, led the open forum on librarian licensure examination.

The last day of the conference began with four librarian licensure exam topnotchers Mr. Vernon Totanes (1st place, 2004), Ms. Ma Cristina Nabaunag (1st place, 2006), Mr. Elijah Dar Juan (1st place 2008), and Mr. Eduardo Puzon (10th place, 2008) sharing their secrets on how to ace the board exam. Later on, Members of the PATLS conducted their general assembly while non-members were toured around the Ortigas Foundation Library.

Social Networking and E-Business Conference All Set this April

Be prepared for Marketing and Advertising in the 21st century by attending the 2nd Social Networking and E-Business Conference 2009 on April 23 – 24, 2009 at the Hotel Intercontinental, Makati City.

Organized by Fiera de Manila and DigitalFilipino Club, in cooperation with SME.com.ph and Bizster.com, the event aims to present social networking sites as the new venue for marketing and advertising. It is undeniable that social networking has reached its level of popularity with sites like Friendster , Facebook, and MySpace boasting of a membership reaching hundreds of millions. Still, many corporate executives either dismiss social networking as a distraction or regard it as a risk management problem. In corporations where such tools have been expected to bring profound transformations, there is still a strong resistance to change. By utilizing the wide reach and audience of social networking sites, blog, and other Web 2.0 platforms, companies will be able to communicate to their market more effectively.
Amongst the conference topics to be highlighted in this learning event are:

• Ms. Janette Toral, Founder, Digitalfilipino.com for “Harnessing the Top Social Media Sites (Friendster, Facebook, Multiply, MySpace, etc)” ,
• Mr. Andrian Lee, General Manager, Asia Pay for “Application Platforms Race to Micro-Payments”,
• Mr. Jerome Almirante, Head, VAS and Data Services, Smart Communications, Inc. for “Using Mobile Technologies to Extend Social Networking”,
• Mr. Phil Cahiwat, Chief Content Officer,Level Up! for “Digital Marketing Through Online Games”,
• Mr. Adonis Yap, President, SME.com.ph and Bizster.com and Ms. Crisela Cervantes, Head Customer Services, ABS-CBN Interactive/Multiply for “Advance Social Networking and Advertising”,
• Mr. Christian Lim, Product Manager, SMEG Marketing, PLDT SME Nation for “Enabling SMEs Through Internet and Other Technologies”,
• Mr. Cyril Rocke, President, DataOne Asia for “The Next Generation Communication Services”
• Atty. JJ Disini, Professor, UP College of Law for “Data Privacy in Social Networks”,
• Mr. Wilson Chua, CEO, Bitstop Network Solutions and Mr. Cris Conception, Head, Sales and Business Operations, Yahoo! Philippines for “Application Development Platform Updates”,
• Mr. Ranulf Goss, Technical Director, SunGame for “Having a Start-Up Business in Web 3.0 Era”,
• Wendy S. Ang, Founder, My Optimind Solutions and Janette Toral, Founder, Digitalfilipino.com for “Search Engine Optimization and Marketing”,
• Mr. Jay Frank de Jesus, Founder, Titik Pilipino for “Philippine Music Surviving the Download Era”,

A mini-exhibit of products, goods, and services featuring state-of-the-art technologies of Web 2.0 will run simultaneous with this two-day conference.

The 2^nd Social Networking and E-Business Conference 2009 is sponsored by Yahoo! Philippines, Friendster.com, PLDT SME Nation, Smart Communications, Inc., Philstar.com, Business World, Bworldonline.com, IT Matters, Business Mirror and Myoptimind.com.

For registration and inquiries, please contact the Event Manager at (632) 896-0639, 896-0637, 899-6216 or e-mail at fiera@info.com.ph. Visit the website at www.fmi.com.ph or http://socialnetworkphilippines.blogspot.com.

Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival 2009 Drew Local and International Cyclists

Over 15,000 cyclists from all over the country and around the world pedaled their way towards Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales for the 7^th Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival (TLBF) held last April 2 – 5, 2009.

The sports event, presented by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Department of Tourism (DOT) and Caltex, aims to cultivate interest in sports, specifically biking. Furthermore, it aims to promote bicycling as an alternative means of transportation that is environment friendly.

TLBF, which started in 2002, is the only multi-discipline cycling event of its kind in the Philippines and Asia, where races and other activities are held for three days in one location. The races include road, mountain bike downhill, mountain bike cross-country, trials, and BMX freestyle and jumping, among others.

During the event, several races, stunt, and trial competitions were staged for enthusiasts and professionals bikers. These include Mountain Bike Cross Country, 4X, Dirt Jumping, and Downhill Competitions and the BMX Supercross and Dirt Jumping Competition.

Former Philippine Bicycle Team member Baby Marites Bitbit dominated the women’s division while March McQuinn Aleonar from the Philippine Army ruled in the Elite Pro division of the Mountain Bike Cross Country category.

For the first time ever in its history, this year’s edition of the TLBF included a triathlon where Mr. Mathieu O’Halloran finished first in the 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run in 1:27:25. He was followed by Mr. Mark Ellis with 1:43:39 and Mr. Antonio Lopez with 1:47:30.

Aside from competitions, the TLBF held the 2009 FilBike Bicycle Expo where former Multiple-UCI World Champion and Mountain Bike Hall of Famer Hans “No Way” Rey talked about Wheels 4 Life, a non-profit foundation that has been assisting the less privileged in acquiring a bike. This year’s winner of the Downhill competition, current Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) 4X World Champion Brian Lopes, also shared his experience in competing in a World Cup. International bike builder Jeff Jones, winner of the 3^rd Philippine Trials Competition, revealed the philosophy behind designing non suspended bicycles. While Banshee Bikes Chief Operating Officer Mr. Jay Macneil talked about Bicycle suspension 101.

The 7^th Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival is co-presented by Inquirer.net , Yehey.com and Bike Town Cyclery, sponsored by Gatorade, Smart Communications, Rudy Project Eyewear, Jägermeister, Business Mirror, Pinoy Bikes, Chris Sports, Deuter Bags, Cafe Breton, Sportspray, Enervon-C Multivitamins, Flanax, and the following media partners: Dirt Rag Mountain Bike Magazine, Men's Health Magazine, Women’s Health Magazine, MTV Philippines, XFM 92.3, Wave 89.1, and Philippine Daily Inquirer.