Friends, I would like to update everyone on the meeting at Starbucks Araneta Center last week.
- I had the pleasure of finally meeting Prof. Pablo Manalastas last Saturday, along with Marvin Pascual, Dudds Ruiz of Pitchmo Technologies Inc. and Maenard Martinez. - As most meetings go between fellow geeks, talk frequently turns to discussions of the tech in what we do. Particularly relevant is Prof. Manalastas' involvement in the *Transparent Elections Project*. From a tech point of view the project is a very interesting puzzle per se, so that by itself makes it worth hours of discussion. From a how - it - can - affect - our - country point of view it obviously transcends the geekery and is quite relevant. It is my opinion that this project's efforts is worthy of study as to how we can contribute to it somehow. I am already planning to interview the Prof. via email soon, which I shall post on Linux.org.ph. This should help enlighten us all on how they plan to go about it (im a little confused honestly). Readers will definitely get their geek on and the resulting discussions, I'm sure, would probably merit its own mailing list. - Marvin also explained what he's doing these days (telephony) and of course that was very interesting as well. The low cost of his solution looks like it can blow the competition away. - Maenard has also indicated that his company (which I won't mention yet) shall be sponsoring us at the Expo. He is waiting for me to make a list of things I would want for it. - Marvin told me that the old website has a number of items that would be useful to us. The only reason I never got the backup files before was because I wasn't sure what it was for, and it required a trip to Makati, so I put that in the backburner. Will see if I can Air21 it to me instead. - And finally, Prof. Manalastas has indicated that he will take steps to form the convenors of PLUG in order to provide me the mandate to act in its behalf. He requested we could do it online via linux.org.ph, but as I am the admin of that website it does not seem proper for me to hold my own election, so he'll do it old school instead (a meeting). As usual whenever I meet fellow PLUGgers it was a very interesting way to spend an afternoon. We were all from very different backgrounds but had much in common at the same time. I am calling for another meeting on *July 31, Thursday, next week, at Bo's Coffee, Robinson's Galleria 630pm* onwards. At this meeting I hope to finally meet some of the other guys who have committed sponsorship, and this gives a chance for those who were unable to come as well. And finally two things, *first*, my ym address is "exchangeph", and I'm on Google Talk all the time, so anyone who wants to privately speak to me is free to do so especially those 'shy' ones. Let me know what's on your mind. And *two*, the event date is *Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2008*, so please put that on your calendars. Matagal pa, I know, which is why let's keep meeting and talking para maganda ang kalabasan ng efforts natin. Thanks to all! Gary
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