Googlified in 2013

I am thankful to Google since I started to become active in social media, switching to easy to manage blogger from my oh so complicated blog site, I never left and managed quite a number of blogs as of this writing. Through the active initiative of the local groups here, I also learned how to use Google map. Though not active for the year 2013, I still made it to the big events the recently organized Google Business Group in Gensan arranged. Like the Women on Web, obviously a gathering of women and empowering them through social media, even inviting the You tube famous "Juana Change".

We should never miss the biggest Google event in General Santos City so far, with more than 300 attendees  - GDayX Mindanao. Held at the event center of SM Gensan, Google people visited Gensan and shared technologies, applications and programs that are a huge help for mankind. One thing I remember during that gathering is - "Moon Shot". Google it. 

Concert Series: Tanduay's First 5 rocked GENSAN!

Here is a quick round-up of the very first visit of Tanduay First 5 to the City of the Generals last July 30, 2011 at the Taps and Kokay (formerly known Anchor Driving Range).


As early as Four o'clock in the afternoon people started to came in groups at the concert grounds, even watching the bands do the sound check.


5:00pm - crowd inside the venue grew in significant numbers. People who came in during this time got a near and clear view of the stage


6:00pm - A traffic of people seems to be a little bit manageable. People lining up are still relaxed.


7:00pm - Crowd starts to fill the streets causing heavy traffic to the passersby. Good thing that the organizers thought of this kind of problem in advance and hired people to manage the traffic problem just in case. The singled line entrance for male audience turned into five lines while for the girls just two. Thus proving my theory that there are still more men who loves the noise a rock band brings.


8:00pm - The first band to perform was the young and vibrant CHICOSCI. I was still lining-up at the female entrance when they started there first song for the night.

"Ang galing niyo Gensan" - Miggy Chavez

Originally called Chico Science, the group won an inter school Battle of the Bands representing Ateneo de Manila University that led them to a slow rise stardom. As they hurdled there way to the rock scene success, Miguel "Miggy" Chavez, Miguel "Mong" Alcaraz, Carlos "Calde" Calderon, Jan Kevin Santos and Joel Salvador together with Sonny Baquisal and long-time friend Eugene "Yug" Esquivias - the group reinvented themselves seeking help from the able rock scene professionals like that of Raymond Marasigan thus shreiking girls know them as CHICOSCI! 

The group was pretty generous with there performance and gained a number of screamers - hands down to Miggy and Mong! It was a good way of starting a rock concert - stretching and flexing everyone's muscle for the next bands to come. It was the first time of the group to perform for the GENERALS and they left a mark of AWESOMENESS which surely adds to their fan based in General Santos City.


9:30pm - Then comes SANDWICH on stage! Another group of CONYO band that made the crowd a bit crazy! Not a first timer, T5 tour in gensan for the band is there 3rd in General Santos City. I remembered the group's first time in the city when they front-acted for the then popular ALAMID, when only a few of the audience appreciate the genre of the band. But gone are those days when people does not know the lines of Sandwich's popular singles. Today, some of their hits such as SUGOD can instigate a MOSH during live performances. 

"When you go home, form a band" - Raymond Marasigan

Sandwich is a Filipino rock band that was formed in 1995 by Raimund Marasigan and Diego Castillo for the purpose of fulfilling their mutual desire to work together. Castillo recruited former band mates from The Aga Muhlach Experience Mike Dizon (of The Teeth) to play drums and Myrene Academia (of Imago) to handle bass duties. Sandwich was searching for a vocalist when music video director Marie Jamora recommended her friend Marc Abaya. A few years earlier, Marasigan was a judge at a contest where Marc Abaya jammed to a Beastie Boys song with his high-school band, Shirley Beans. Abaya then joined Sandwich, but was later replaced by Mong Alcaraz of the band Chicosci.

Favorite part of Sandwich performance: their MASH-UP of Masilungan and Alapaap!  

10 something - Iya Villana joined the local DJs in introducing the next group. And the crowd went WILD! as Chito Miranda of Parokya ni Edgar started to sing their first song! As expected, people sing along with the group as they performed some current and not so old singles.

Naming themselves Comic Relief, the band originally consisted of three vocalists – Chito Miranda, Jeric Estaco, Vinci Montaner, and two guitarists, Miko Yap and Gab Chee Kee. They constantly played through after-school jam session, before performing an opening number for an Eraserheads concert. This break prompted the band to add a drummer and a bassist – Dindin Moreno and Buwi Meneses respectively. The same performance also marked the change of the band's name to Parokya ni Edgar.^[2] After high school, Miko and Jeric left the band to pursue other interests. As a replacement, the remaining band members invited to their fold, guitarist Darius Semaña (lead guitar). The name Parokya Ni Edgar came from a joke answer Jeric Estaco gave during Philippine History class, when the teacher asked him where Jose Rizal's fictional hero, Crisostomo Ibarra (in the novel Noli Me Tangere), was educated.

Important: it was GAB CHEE KEE's birthday that night! And a sea of people at the venue celebrated it with him!

11 and beyond: The band that most of the tambays waited for - KAMIKAZEE! The naturally comic Jay went up on stage and started their hilarious performance. Only proving that the group is here to stay and their followers are growing in numbers.

Kamikazee is a Filipino rock band formed in 2000. The band is composed of Jay Contreras, Jomal Linao, Led Tuyay, Puto Astete and Bords Burdeos.The band is composed of five members who met in college at the College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Kamikazee's early gigs were mostly on campus events in UP Diliman like the annual UP Fair. Before they were signed in a major label, they went by the name "Kamikazee Cornflakes" (eventually shortened to its current state as "Kamikazee" which they think is easier to remember). Their early shows included renditions of the songs "Mmm Sarap", "Tsinelas", a cover of Ariel Rivera's "Sana Kahit Wolfgang is a Filipino heavy metal, hard rock and grunge band formed around 1992 in Manila, Philippines. Wolfgang is notable for being the only Filipino rock band to release albums in Japan and the United States and for realizing Platinum record sales in their home country.^[1] The quartet went on hiatus in 2002, but reunited in 2007.Minsan", and Britney Spears' Lucky. They were known for using expletives, suggestive movements, and references to genitalia in their UP Diliman performances.

Highlight: Jay called up three ladies to join the group on stage, let them take a shot of the sponsor drink then ask them which band did they came for. Two girls who answered Parokya ni Edgar got a kiss on the cheek from Chito Miranda while the sole lady who answered Kamikazee got a controversial kiss from a wet Jay! 

Those are surely for the records!

Almost 1 in the morning: The comebacking Wolfgang proved that they are never too old to play their kind of music. It was a nostalgic feeling for the fans of the group upon hearing their favorite songs from them. You can really identify the fanatics from the posers. 

Wolfgang is a Filipino heavy metal, hard rock and grunge band formed around 1992 in Manila, Philippines. Wolfgang is notable for being the only Filipino rock band to release albums in Japan and the United States and for realizing Platinum record sales in their home country.^[1] The quartet went on hiatus in 2002, but reunited in 2007. After the band broke up in 2002, bassist Mon Legaspi took over bass guitar duties from Carlos Balcells of The Dawn. Legaspi stayed with The Dawn from 2002 until 2004. Wolf Gemora, for his part, was part of thesouthern California-based rock quartet, called Lokomotiv, while Basti Artadi became the vocalist for a San Francisco-based group called Kitaan; he later sang for Lokomotiv, actually cutting the band's debut album,Rock N' Roll Death Toll. He left Lokomotiv shortly thereafter, and was replaced by Ryan Hudson. Artadi later worked as a coordinator for the corporate operations department of Gap in San Francisco.^[4] Manuel Legarda formed the band DRT with former Gnash vocalist Jay Ortega, Blue Rats' drummer Miguel Ortigas and bassist Paolo Pacia. Manuel Legarda has since left DRT, and has been replaced by Daniel Crilosogo of the band DC Aftershock. Manuel is now in the process of mixing the next Wolfgang album. Wolf Gemora is presently in the band, 3 Headed Dog with ex-Razorback guitarist David Aguirre and Lokomotiv bassist Danny Gonzalez. They are based in southern California and they toured the Philippines in January 2011.

Highlights: Basti Artadi the vocalists is already wasted as he came on stage even forgetting some of the lyrics of "Anino"!  He also stopped their performace just to remind the audience to behave well and stop fighting or whatever the commotion on the ground is.

The concert was such a big treat for General Santos City and we proved that we are so ready for these kinds of sponsored events. We just hope that they will come back on the next years!

Thanks Tanduay for bringing T5 the power of 5 to Gensan!

TANDUAY FIRST 5 to visit GENSAN

Now on its 3rd Year, Tanduay First 5 Tour will be visiting the city of the Generals for the very first time on July 30, 2011!


Yes oh yes you music fanatics of General Santos City and our neighbors out there! Tanduay will be bringing five rock bands to our soils on July 30, 2011 at the formerly known Anchor Driving Range ( now TAPS and KOKAY), beside East Asia Royale Hotel.

The ‘Power of Five’ is nothing short of a true casting coup: A distinct status that will elevate every member of the Tanduay First Five to Rock Icons. They will be united as “A League of One”, under one banner as the First Five. The line-up further reflects and reinforces the brand’s standing of being the country’s Number One Rhum. With this powerhouse line-up, the tour just got bigger and louder for 2011, as the bands rock out at 30 key cities and venues nationwide. 

According to Tanduay’s Andres Co, “We owe it to our loyal consumers. This is our way of thanking them for their continued patronage. We will let them experience our new products and at the same time enjoy music with their friends and family.” 

The 2011 Tanduay First Five Nationwide Concert Tour is projected to be the loudest, biggest and most anticipated tour in the country. It promises to be the most talked-about series with Wolfgang after being away for 6 years; the young rock fans will finally meet their idols for this much awaited comeback. Parokya ni Edgar, one of the most popular bands in the land will add fun and excitement for the tour together with Kamikazee. Returning for the 3rd time, Chicosci and Sandwich will complete the cast and showcase their own kind of rock music with new songs for their fans to enjoy!

THREE OF THE FIVE BANDS TO WATCH OUT FOR:

So where can we get FREE TICKETS? Its not completely free though, you need to buy 2 bottles TANDUAY Longneck and you may claim free 1 ticket at these Grocery Stores: KCC, GAISANO, SUNTRADING AND SUNMART starting July 6, 2011.


Rock on!

Un Dadsan Festival 2011

The southern most part of Mindanao is becoming one of the places that travelers both local and foreign would love to visit. With the growing popularity of the Sarangani Bay Fest that is annually staged by the government of Sarangani Province, people considers this part of Mindanao a place to be during Summer Breaks. Check the Schedule of Activities of SarBay Fest here.

Sarangani and General Santos City is gifted with beaches that should be taken care of thus the Barangay Council of Dadiangas South thru the leadership of Punong Barangay Alvin Veneracion- taking cue from its neighbor - conceptualize a Summer Feast that can be likened to the SarBay Fest of Sarangani. Highlighting the improvements of the then Lion's Beach - the Festival would like to promote and develop the Queen Tuna Park into an inexpensive Summer destination.

An addition for the Summer Attraction in SOCSSKSARGEN is the 1st Dadiangas South UN DADSAN Festival. Before you troop to the white beaches of Gumasa, Glan, check out the Dadsan Festival on May 4-7, 2011 at the Queen Tuna Park, General Santos City.

Beach activities includes, Volleyball, Football, Frisbee and other competitions you could think of. See the poster above for the schedule of activities.

It will be a party 

from 

Sun Up to 

Sun Down 

at Queen Tuna Park 

with the 

1st DadSAn Festival!

4TH GENSAN ECO-KARERA

The 2010 Best Tourism Event Sports Adventure Category City Level by the Association of the Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) is now on its FOURTH YEAR! 


Gensan Eco Karera Adventure Series aims to test the Human Endurance and Skills of the Adventure Racers across Mindanao with much more demanding challenges for the year 2011 will be on May 5-7, 2011 across the 14 Barangays of General Santos City.


Charing the event is the Committee Chairperson on Tourism, City Councilor Virginia Llido, while Mr. Jing Velos who served as the Event Director for the previous Eco-Karera is still handling the event like his very own baby.


A Re-Launching/Opening Program will take place on May 4, 2011; 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon at the Queen Tuna Park together with the opening of the 1st Dadiangas South Un DadSan Festival. 


The Race Managers promised a much more complicated and demanding challenges for the teams coming from all over Mindanao. This will also showcase the natural wealth and wonders of General Santos City particularly of the 14 Barangays of the City. 


Interested Teams may check this link for more details or you may find them on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/gensanecokarera

BUSY B Proud Mapper

MAP YOUR WORLD. With Google Map Maker application, anyone can map and tag their neighborhood as easy as one-two-three. 

Google Map Maker is a service launched by Google in June 2008,^[1] designed to expand the breadth of the service currently offered by Google Maps. In some countries mapping data is unavailable, and so to combat this problem Google has decided to open up Google Maps to a collaborative community effort in certain territories. The project is similar to OpenStreetMap (OSM), but unlike OSM which provides its map data under a Creative Commons license, Google obtains "... a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display, distribute, and create derivative works of the User Submission".^[2] 

The ultimate goal of the project is to acquire sufficient high-quality mapping data to be published and used on the existing Google Maps service.  -wikipedia- 

FLASHBACK. My first Google Mapping Party was a year and five days ago - April 25, 2011 (days before the historical Philippine National Elections). It was a Google Precinct Mapping Party organized by Sir Avel Manansala held at Grab A Crab Restaurant Oval Room, Robinsons Place- GenSan. The party served as  Google Philippines' and the Sox Bloggers'  share for the National Elections - to help voters locate their Voting Precincts in a breeze and in effect increase the voter turn-outs and achieve a better Philippines. Pnoy won as President and he rest as we always say is history.

24 Busy Mappers in Blue*

NOW. April 30, 2011. Still through Sir Avel Manansala's determination, the very first Google Mapping Party in General Santos City for the year 2011 took place at the City Mayor's Office New Conference Room. With the objective of mapping and tagging the places which will be highly necessary in time of disaster or calamity, Twenty Four Map Volunteers spent more than four hours,  pointing, lining, shaping, zooming in and out or adding name in their neighborhood and the rest of Socsksargen. To make the mapping more systematic, each volunteer are assigned either a municipality or a Barangay or two to map or tag.


My assignment's my own barangay - Apopong and supposedly the neighbor Barangay Sinawal as well but since the images are not that clear, I was not able to tag or map a single establishment for Barangay Sinawal. For Barangay Apopong, I successfully located and tagged the Barangay Hall, Barangay Gymnasium, a School and some chapels and hopefully before the year ends I can able to identify all the important landmarks of Barangay Apopong.

Busy-B Mapping*

Special thank yous goes out to all the sponsors of this activity. Google Philippines, Jollibee Gaisano - Cruchy Chicken Burger, Mamma Maria's Pizzeria, Zagu Pearl Shake, Smart Bro, City Mayor's Office and gensanboy.com.


Lets spread the virus and continue on Mapping our World!


*Photos by Sir Avel Manansala

TAKBO GENSAN SERIES 9

I remembered waking up very early of October 31, 2011 to join the PNP's Takbo Gensan para sa Kabataan. It was a well attended fund raising activity whose primary objective is to help the Youth of the city and to reach-out to the civil society. Click this for related article. From then on, the PNP continued this program with different objective every other Sunday.

Now for the nth time, the General Santos City Police Office is inviting everyone   to their Takbo Gensan Series entitled 

KAGITINGAN MARCH - "Freedom Run" on April 10, 2011.

Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation No. 466, s 1989 declaring the period of April 5 - 11 of every year as the Philippine Veterans Week and Executive Oder No. 203 - 2, 1987, declaring April 9 as "Araw ng Kagitingan",the GSCPO celebrates the historic event with one of the Takbo Gensan Series.

Bataan Day shall also be celebrated by commemorating those who lost their lives defending the peninsula of Bataan (in the Philippines) against the Japanese in 1941 - 42 and those who subsequently died on the "Bataan Death March". Also called "Day of Valor". Celebrated on April 9th, each year.

TAKBO GENSAN Series 8, KAGITINGAN MARCH - "Freedom Run" will take place on April 10, 201; 5 o'clock in the morning at Oval Plaza Ground, General Santos City.

You register from March 30 - April 9, 2011 by visiting the General Santos City Police Office or by contacting these numbers: 301-6728(landline); 09298725321(mobile) Look for PO2 Lourei-liz S. Framil-Rodriguez, the Takbo Gensan Series Coordinator.

Registartion Fee:
 
Php25.00 - Elementary

Php 50.00 - Adults

Php250.00 - w/ T-Shirt




To those of you who wish to get a shirt make sure to reserve in advance. The first 150 to register can get hold of the Takbo Gensan Series 9 Shirt. Here's a picture of the shirt for those interested.

You may also add the General Santos City Police Office on Facebook by clicking this.

SKIMBOARDIN' @ QUEEN TUNA PARK - GENSAN

Skim Dance

Where in General Santos City, can you spend one summer day or afternoon just lazing and dozing on the sand or swim and soak in the salty waters or learn new water sport with all your might for FREE?


Years after rehabilitating the Lion's Beach Resort, people of General Santos and few of its neighbors started to flock their way to the now known QUEEN TUNA PARK during hot weekends and holidays.Located just at the downtown area, the park is pretty accessible for beach bums everywhere. FACT. It is near the Public Market and a walking distance to a number of restaurants. Plus, rides like tricycles and jeepneys are available on your way out.


QUEEN TUNA PARK is now clean and safe to bum around the place. The Generals who are on tight budget or not, go to the park to meet with friends, bond with love ones or just enjoy the beach. There are those who do more than that!


Introducing a water sport that you might consider learning - SKIMBOARDING!

SKIMBOARDING
- n The sport of riding a skimboard over shallow water on a beach and into oncoming waves close to shore The board is usually tossed ahead and jumped on after a running approach.

SHOW TIME! PLAY TIME!

Since its was introduced in 2000 at Tanauan, Leyte (SkimBoarding Capital of the Philippines), the SKIM fever reached the shores of General Santos City also!At first, young generals usually come together at the Queen Tuna Park to simply enjoy the small waves through skimboarding, until they considered joining friendly competitions and staging Skimboarding Competition as well.  


Considering that  General Santos shores does not have huge waves like those of Hawaii, skimboarding is a good substitute for surfing. No need to go to Leyte to experience SkimBoarding. You just need a skim board and you are good to go!


Interested? Let me know and I'll help look for someone to make a Skim Board specially made for you.


Who says Summer Outing need to be expensive? That I differ! 

DANCESPORT for KALILANGAN 2011

Calling all Dance Sports Enthusiast 

in Visayas and Mindanao!

The Dance Sport Council of the Philippines Inc (SOKSARGEN Chapter) brings you again the Dance Sport Training/Workshop and Competition in celebration of the 72nd Foundation Anniversary of General Santos City or famously known as the Kalilangan Festival.

The Dance Sports Training Seminar/Workshop is to be conducted by no less than Mr. Lowell B. Tan, an Internationally Acclaimed Dance Sport Champion. The Seminar/Workshop will take place on February 24 - 25, 2011 at the Our Lady of Peace & Good Voyage Parish Center, General Santos City. 

This shall also serve as a prerequisite for those who will be joining the Dance Sport Competition on February 26, 2011 at the Activity Area of  Robinsons Mall Gensan.

For more inquiries please download the Registration Form provided below or you may contact Ms. Virginia Tiongson-Llido at these numbers: 0915-747-7099 or (083) 553-9042.


The form includes the event details, guidelines and prizes.

Registration Form

B and the Sox Bloggers conquers the Scientists' Kitchen

A warm and sunny December 5 became a memorable Sunday for the Busy B and the Mindanao's Funnest! Thanks to the Scientist in the Kitchen, Ms Gay Carillo. Fresh from her Thailand trip, she shared some easy to prepare Thai Dishes that made the Sox Bloggers say ohhhh and ahhhhhh...


Here are the dishes that the Sox Bloggers themselves prepared (with the assistance of the Scientist of course):

Proud with our Pad Thai

we prepared our own lunch expect for the chicken and spring rolls

A Sox Bloggers gathering would not be complete without photo shoot. Now time for some camwhoring. 

highly gay with the Mindanao's Funnest

a pose before finally leaving our host's abode

This group is definitely Mindanao's Funnest!

PASKO SA GENSAN 2010 OFFICIALLY OPENS

The sudden downpour of rain did not stopped the Drum and Lyre contingents from doing their stints. Participants from various schools of General Santos City and neighboring towns looked all animated either with their costume and their make-up with their drums and other musical instruments at hand.


The Drum and Lyre competition organized by the head of Youth Affairs and Development Office, ELMER CEQUINA served as a loud siren that this year's Pasko sa Gensan festivities is on roll.

photo grabbed from General Joana

The swift Program turning every presentors into anime' characters, the parade of champagne and the lighting of the Christmas tree in the middle of the Oval Plaza were only a few signaling the  OPENING. Plus the longest display of fireworks in any General Santos City was greatly enjoyed by the Generals that night.

photo grabbed from General Joana

"Animi sa Gensan, Anime ang Paskuhan" is this years' Pasko sa Gensan Theme which really brought out the creativity of the Generals who participated, participating and will be participating the events and activities lined up. Click this for the lists of activities.

Ooooopppsss! Do not forget the activity I am managing. Go check it out on December 12, 2010 at the Oval Stage. Expect Ten young and talented Bands from General Santos City and the rest of the 1st District of South Cotabato showcase their stuff for the Sigaw Kabataan: Battle of the Bands sa Paskuhan sa Gensan.

Friends experience an Anime' way of 

Christmas only in Paskuhan sa Gensan!

Isang Maligayang Pasko sa Magandang Gensan!

photo grabbed from General Joana

All photos used in this post are taken by Mosler Paul Lapore.