Globe Telepresence: Welcome to the Future of Global Communication

Last October 14, I had the unique experience of being in a “telepresence meeting” at the Globe office in Makati.

I’ve had my own share of video conferencing but the experience was passable based on the existing technology. Normally, it would be a set up of a 17” monitor with a VGA camera panned out to accommodate the group of people in attendance. Bandwidth limitation would cause some delay in the video transmission but voice quality, well, let me put it this way---we can understand each other (that’s the bottomline anyway, right?). Given my minimal expectations of what a video call might be---Globe’s Telepresence BLEW MY MIND!

The set up that I got the opportunity to witness was a six seater room equipped with 3 very large LCD displays (that delivers high resolution video) and three 1080p cameras that captures smooth, high definition videos with auto-focus and white balance to optimize realism. The room actually mimics a round table set up good for a total of 12 pax---the experience enables a life-size “in person” meeting across multiple locations around the world in real time.

With this solution, company executives who invest on international trips will surely benefit from the cost saving opportunities in utilizing telepresence as a means to meet with clients and business partners. Travel time and incidental cost will be put to a minimum. Aside from this, it will also give the environment a reprieve from the harmful by product of air travel.

With Globe’s 24x7 international connectivity, companies can rent out a telepresence room to set up business meetings. To facilitate this, a 24 hour concierge service was set up featuring an online booking facility to schedule the Globe Telepresence room in Makati City.

For companies with extra room in their budget to spare, having their own telepresence room facility will cost around… a 7 digit number to build.

For an “in person” meeting experience around the world, go to http://globe.com.ph/telepresence .

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Moniegold Chewy Tamarind Candy

I was introduced to this treat by my daughter. I was intrigued as to what the rock-like thingy she was snacking on one time and took one for taste. It was hard to the bite but becomes chewy after a couple of chomps. It's initially sweet and becomes spicy at the tail end with that distict tamarind taste. Surprisingly, taking one would lead you to take another and another and another...it's quite addicting really.

Anyway, I found it as a substitute to my garlic peanut addiction. Yeah, yeah, both addiction but I guess it's the lesser evil given my high uric acid result. Tamarind is a fruit and as such it's a better alternative. However, ever since I started eating it I noticed that my pooping became more frequent and...well...smelled kindda funny...TANGY actually. Then I remembered that tamarind, when consumed in large quantities, is a natural laxative.

Note to self: DON'T EAT TOO MUCH SPECIALLY DURING LONG TRAVELS. Ahh, to hell with it! I'll just always carry baby wipes to be safe!

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FrancisM Clothing Co. 4th Year Anniversary @ The Collective - October 8, 2010

Since I’ve started this day talking about influences, a notable Filipino personality popularly known as the “King of Pinoy Rap”, Francis Magalona, comes to mind.

Francis died more that a year ago but his legacy in both music and national pride lives on in the Filipino psyche. He is a rapper, song writer, producer, director, photographer, and entrepreneur. In all these endeavors Francis was able to put in his distinctive Filipino mark.

Yesterday, my wife and I went to the 4th year anniversary of the FrancisM Clothing Co. (FMCC) at The Collective in Makati. The FMCC provided Francis another avenue to showcase the Filipino. “Brown Like Wood, Filipino by Blood” is FMCC’s company creed. Their mission, “To create worthy products for the urban patriot, the balikbayans, and the local market. To mix “cool” with subliminal social commentary, and create awareness towards issues that the Filipino faces in this new millennium. To put it simply, our goal is to “FILIPINIZE THE WHOLE WORLD”.

The event showcased an exhibit of Francis Magalona memorabilia: his numerous movie posters, awards, photographs, concert costumes, comics collection, and his toys. GMA 7 and ABS-CBN covered the event and interviewed the personalities in attendance which included Francis’ siblings Maxene and Elmo Magalona and Francis’ rapper protégé Gloc9.

The event was capped off with a mini concert by Gloc9 and Francis’ son Elmo Magalona at the B Side bar. Unfortunately, the concert was too late in the night and since we still had our parental obligations to attend to me and my wife had to split early.

Rest in Peace, Brother! You remain in our hearts!

You tend to wonder why a grown man can have so many

toys! But I guess it only goes to show the young child in the

legend of Francis Magalona.

The many faces of the Master Rapper

Two of the rare Tagalog films I've watched in

my life time.

The master's various accomplishments in film, music, and photography.

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Boracay Island Tour

Did I tell you that I have this big water phobia? Open sea actually. Well, I do. Now here's the dilema: I wanted my wife to enjoy our Boracay vacation and between the island tour and the buggy ride, the latter was the best way to go. So there I was trying to look cool and composed where in fact I'm near to shitting on my pants!

The ride started well enough. My wife snorkled for a while and was prodding me to get into the water. One look in the sea green water was enough to scare the living crap out of me---but---I calmly refused. Truth be known, I was so wanting to get to dry land! Then, when it was time to move on, the damn motor won't start! I looked at my left and saw land but as the boat drifted (and the bangkero trying hard to revive the motor), I glanced starboard side and saw an everlasting sea---i started praying! Fortunately, after an eternity of trying, the motor came to life and we were again enroute to the various destinations: Bulabog Beach, Puca Beach, the caves, and the various high end hotels on the other side of the white beach. I started praying again when we reached the bend back to the stations. It seemed that the sea was angry at that part of the island that our bangka was being tossed around by high waves!

I was in a mental panic and trying to be composed at the same time! Man! That was hard to do! It was 15 minutes of panic! Before we finally got into calmer waters my head was screaming "Susmaryosep! Susmaryosep! Susmaryosep!" and at the same time saying "Whooooopeee!" to my wife who was holding me tightly! Talk about multi-tasking!

But despite of this, Boracay remains to be an amazing vacation destination!

Ate Levi seeing us off to our island tour.

Our own private bangka: The Mac Mac

Our bangkeros.

D Talipapa
The Monaco Suites
Puca Beach

What happens in Puca Beach stays in Puca Beach.

Manny Pacquiao's Boracay West Cove

Shangri-la Boracay

Club Panoly

Can't seem to get enough of these sail boats! With the blue sky and clear blue water as foreground and background---it's simply spectacular to behold!