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WordCamp Philippines 2008

This was the first ever WordCamp in the Philippines, thanks to the Mindanao Bloggers who organized it. I wasn’t able to resist going even when I have classes on a Saturday especially since Matt was coming.

Midnight before the event, after I’ve finished making a presentation for an oral group report for school, I hurriedly composed a letter I wished Matt Mullenweg would sign. I slept through the night, but woke up a little later than I hoped for.

I was actually thankful the event was held on a place easily accessible from Las Piñas. Arriving at the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, I immediately saw Shari on her black WordCamp volunteer shirt. We entered the auditorium and looked for Lexie. With her red hair I haven’t seen before, we walked past her and Dre looking like idiots searching for someone in front of everybody. Heh.

I brought Azusa with me, and blogged right after I’ve sat beside Lexie. She convinced me into signing up with Plurk. And so far, I’ve enjoyed Plurking that I wish you guys would join, too. 😀

After the introduction, breakaway sessions took place. I was with Lexie and Dre all those times, and we ate a bountiful lunch from Chowking together afterwards.

That’s when we ambushed Matt for autographs. I remember he laughed when I told him, “I didn’t come to school today. Will you sign my excuse letter?” Haha! It was great! The geek in me became happy. 🙂

Plenary sessions came, and Matt talked about the future of WordPress. That reminds me, I still haven’t upgraded my installation yet! Uh, anyway, I consider WordPress 2.7 be Matt’s birthday gift for me on November. 😆 Upgrades are promising as always, and I’m looking forward to the new version.

The topic of Web standards was a part of the plenary sessions, all thanks to Shari and Sir Regnard. The geek in me was even happier. 😉

After the event, I’ve met up with fellow standardistas Ia and Mae to talk with Shari and Lexie how we’d start the group Web Standards Philippines again. Let’s set the meetings already! 😀

Some more picture-taking took place afterwards. I’ve posted them on my Flickr. 🙂

It was fun. See everyone at the next WordCamp Philippines! 2009 maybe? 😛

8 September 2008
Nearing the end of WordCamp

We ambushed Matt earlier to have him sign my excuse letter and take some photos. Lexie told me I looked like a child on Christmas morning while Matt is signing my letter. 😀

I’m so happy that Web standards was included as a topic in one of the talks specifically by Regnard Raquedan. And I was actually surprised he mentioned me and my blog. Now, I somehow feel pressured to post something about Web standards again. 😛 We are planning to have a meeting later for the Web Standards Philippines group, and I really hope it would again get things going. Thanks Sir Regnard! 😀

6 September 2008
WordCamp Breakaway Sessions

I’m still live blogging here in WordCamp Philippines 2008, and I’ve seen Matt already! ~~I still haven’t had the chance to make him sign my excuse letter, though.~~ 😀

These are the breakaway sessions I’ve attended with Lexie and Dre.

First Session: Creating WordPress Themes and CSS Power by Gail Villanueva

Gail discussed the basics of creating WordPress themes especially The Loop, the separate theme files, and widgetizing themes. I was hoping for a more advanced discussion, though.

Second Session: Building a Blogging Community by Blogie Robillo

I actually liked having attended this session, it really gave me an idea how to start/continue forming the Web Standards Philippines group with Shari and Lexie.

Third Session: Blogging and Journalism by Danilo Arao

I couldn’t actually explain much about this session, but I’ve learned a lot about opinion, position and views about blogging and journalism—the laws, government policies around the world, personal opinions, and much more.

Photos with Matt on a later post. 😀

6 September 2008
Here at CSB for WordCamp
I’m live blogging here at the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, and Matt Mullenweg is still missing.^[1] It’s 9 in the morning and WordCamp Philippines 2008 still hasn’t started yet. I’ve already met Lexie, Dre, Shari and Ronnie, and the hall is still filling in with people.

The event is about to start in minutes, so I’ll just post another update then.

Footnote:
1. ^ at least from my sight.
6 September 2008
My new baby, Azusa

Ever since Asus’ announcement of the Eee PC, I was interested to buy one, since I really need a replacement notebook for my display-dead Compaq Presario v2000, which is now on desktop mode connected to a much cheaper (PHP 10,000) external Samsung 19″ wide-screen LCD than a replacement (PHP 13,000~20,000) 14″ built-in one.

I actually bought one the moment an 8G galaxy black model came out on the US. That was early April this year, but my aunt who lives there had filled up the box meant to be sent here just about the end of May. Anyway, I’m just glad I’ve finally gotten a hold of my new baby I named Azusa the 23^rd of July. That was almost 4 months of waiting. The Eee PC 90x is already out in some parts of the world. T_T

She was so named from being an Asus laptop and a certain fictional high school teacher from a 1998 Japanese television drama played by the beautiful Nanako Matsushima.

I was planning to experiment which operating system I could use to replace its custom Xandros-based Linux distro that I find a little bit restrictive. I’m thinking Ubuntu Eee, but suggestions are very welcome.

Right now, I’m making this entry from Azusa herself. I hope, now that I’m confirmed as a camper for the upcoming WordCamp Philippines 2008, there would be free Internet access that I may enjoy on-site blogging.

I guess I’d review my Eee PC experience during the past 3 ½ days:

I was actually surprised how well it receives Wi-Fi signals from my router about 15 meters away from our living room, even my uncle is having a hard time with Wi-Fi on his Toshiba Satellite.

It is actually not so hard to type on this little keyboard, I just hope I could find a way to convert the input method to Dvorak Simplified Keyboard layout (one thing that makes me want to get rid of its custom Xandros-based Linux). It just bothers me with the lack of independent Home, End, PgUp and PgDn buttons, which are mapped to Fn+←, Fn+→, Fn+↑ and Fn+↓, respectively.

I couldn’t actually feel I’m on a sub-GHz Celeron processor right now—it boots up really quickly. Probably, if I’ve loaded this with a Microsoft OS, it would be a bit more sluggish.

Certain applications are somehow hidden from normal view, I wish I could create shortcuts for the text editor, terminal/console app, and a lot more customizations and settings.

Well, that’s it for now. More reviews later when I finally have time to experiment and do more stuff with my first ever product of blogging for money. Next stop? A digital single-lens reflex camera. 🙂

27 July 2008