GBG Angeles City Gathers Students and Businesses for MapUp 2016

Written by Angela Nacpil
Photo Courtesy of Richard Liloc

College students, government representatives, and professionals from tourism and hospitality businesses in Pampanga joined Google Business Group (GBG) Angeles City in its first MapUp series this year 2016 at Systems Plus College Foundation – Balibago on March 11, 2016. Around 60 participants attended the event.

The event, which took place from 9am to 5pm, was hosted by GBG Angeles City, and sponsored by Systems Plus College Foundation, Angeles City Government Office, Greater Clark Visitors Bureau, EmergeLocal and All Things Pampanga.

Richard Liloc, Google Local Guide and Map Maker Regional Lead volunteer headed the first session, which was well-attended by college students. Leading the afternoon session was Joshua Pabustan, a former MapUp event attendee and now a Google Maps expert and volunteer reviewer.

What is a Map Up?

A MapUp is one of the many Google’s many initiatives that aims to gather a group of people, often from a specific town or city, to help map their community and make places of importance like business establishments, educational and government institutions, landmarks, and tourist and leisure spots visible in the web.

Google Maps for business

Google Maps, is a web-based service that provides detailed information about geographical regions and sites around the world. Aside from conventional roadmaps, Google Maps users can toggle aerial and satellite views of different places. In some cities, the widely-used Google service offers street views through horizontal and vertical panoramic angles, accompanied by user-generated and Google-owned photographs.

For businesses, putting their location and business details on Google Maps allows them to take advantage of the many benefits the service offer, and some of which are:

• Route planner – Offers directions for drivers, bikers, walkers, and users of public transportation.
• Google Maps API – Makes it possible for website administrators to embed Google Maps into a propriety site (e.g company website).
• Google Maps for Mobile – Offers a location service for motorists that utilizes the Global Positioning System (GPS) location of the mobile device (if available) along with data from wireless and cellular networks.
• Google Street Views – Allows business owners to give their customers a sneak peek of their establishment and navigate through horizontal and vertical panoramic street level images.

Angeles City MapUp 2016

We're back!

Google Business Group Angeles is set to conduct Angeles City MapUp this year.  It will happen on Friday, March 11 from 9am to 5pm at Systems Plus College Foundation. Students, professionals, business owners, and government agencies stakeholders will gather for a mapping workshop.

We'd like to thank Google Business Group Global, Systems Plus College Foundation, Angeles City Government Office, Greater Clark Visitors Bureau, EmergeLocal and All Things Pampanga for making this event possible.

[Press Release] PDG Launch First Dev Workshop at SM Clark

Written by Crisel Blenda Bautista

ANGELES CITY - With a mission to bridge the gap between the academe and the workplace, Pampanga Developers Group (PDG) launched the first of its kind “collaborative-type” developers’ workshop in Pampanga at the CloudStaff HQ in SM City Clark on August 1, 2015.

Dubbed as “Learn Coding with Mentors”, students from different schools and universities, professionals and volunteers participated in the event.

Veteran developers with different areas of expertise facilitated the whole half-day seminar and workshop.

Jed Tiotuico, a professional ReactNative and PHP developer, started the seminar by discussing about front end development, mobile development and freelancing.

Rachel Jaro, PDG lead organizer and founder of Koodi Systems - a startup web development company in Pampanga, discussed everything that needs to know about Technopreneurship.

Technopreneurship and freelancing were added on the seminar to further educate students about the basic aspects of a successful freelance web developer career. It is also an essential building block of a tech business.

The seminar was followed by discussions on PHP and Cake PHP by Web Developer Joshua Sesniel Deloso.

Students in attendance also paid attention to the talk about the programming language C sharp (C#) and android development by Edison Capiz and Daniel John Gomez, respectively.

Furthermore, Armee Cabayao and Lars Joseph Norlander shared their expertise on mobile development, frontend development and Syntactically Awesome Stylesheets (SASS).

In partnership with CloudStaff, Inc. and Google Business Group (GBG) Angeles, the event aims to introduce the participants to apply their textbook knowledge on mobile and web development with the guidance of designated mentors.

Moreover, the main goal of the whole seminar and workshop was to complete a prototype at the end of the mentoring program.

"This is the first event that we shied away from the usual seminar-type environment. The reason behind our decision to shift gears is to experiment different ways on how we can better reach out to the community by adapting a collaborative-style workshop, which we concluded to be highly-effective for participants," Jaro said.

PDG is a non-profit web developers group based in Pampanga. It seeks to empower and connect Kapampangan mobile and web development students and professionals by organizing seminars, talks, and networking events, centered around the rising trends in web technologies and beyond.

Join them on their Facebook group for event updates.

Pampanga Experience First Ever Google I/O Extended 15

Written by Crisel Blenda Bautista
Edited by Angela Nacpil

ANGELES CITY - Over 100 students and professional developers had their first taste of  “Google I/O” in the first ever Google I/O Extended Roadshow held in one of the biggest universities in Pampanga - Holy Angel University, on July 4, 2015.

Spearheaded by Google Developers Group (GDG) Philippines in partnership with the Pampanga Developers Group and Google Business Group (GBG) Angeles, the event aims to gather all student and professional developers in the region for a workshop that is centered on developing new technologies and sharing the latest tech products discussed in Google I/O 15 in San Francisco, CA earlier this year.

The event was facilitated by student leaders and expert developers in the country who volunteered their time to shed light on new web technologies.

Smart Communications, Inc. Developer Evangelist Paul Pajo started the event by sharing his expertise in the field. He also invited student developers to join the 12th Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) Innovation and Excellence Awards. It is an annual competition that encourages students to create technology-based solutions to solve different social and environmental problems.

The event progressed with GDG Community Manager Benj Tupaz introducing the Google Cardboard Virtual Reality. It is a simple folded cardboard with special lens that allows anyone to experience virtual reality using specific apps on your phone. Amazed by its concept, the participants couldn’t wait to get their hands on the Google Cardboard.

This was followed by an open invitation to all participants to join the Google Translate Community. Introduced by GDG Philippines Community Manager Celine Barrozo, the Translate Community aims to call everyone in representing their language(s).

In-depth discussions on polymer and maps javascripts API were also featured. Senior and Freelance Android Developer Jomar Tigcal entertained queries about the subject.

On the other hand, GDG Community Manager and National Telehealth Center Technology Officer, Wayne Manuel talked about the GDG Philippines and Android master competition.

The event became more interactive during the afternoon session facilitated by University of the Philippines Los Banos Professor Toni-Jan Keith Monserrat with his talk about Design Thinking and Rapid Prototyping.

Participants were given different sets of questions which they needed to solve using web technologies. Applying what they learned during the talk, the participants enjoyed creating prototypes and solutions to a specific problem.

A group of students from Systems Plus Computer College won the competition by solving traffic problem using an app that would identify all the congested areas and providing recommended traffic-free locations. 

Google I/O is an annual developer conference that involves inspirational talks, hands-on learning and an opportunity to know more about Google’s latest developer products.

We'd like to thank our amazing sponsors: Holy Angel University and the College of Information and Communications Technology as our venue partner, Converge ICT Solutions for our fast internet connection, Q Software Research Corporation and our media partner Trabaho TV. Thanks to the organizations who collaborate to make this event possible: Google Developers Group Philippines, Pampanga Developers, and Google Business Group Angeles.

What to expect at the Google I/O Extended Pampanga

by Angela Nacpil

Now that registration has been closed and everything is set for Google I/O Extended Pampanga this coming Saturday, 4th of July 2015, at the SJF Multi-Purpose Hall of Holy Angel University, here’s what you can expect from this much-awaited Google tech road show.

Meet awesome speakers

Get up-close and personal with inspiring individuals who are passionate about technology. We will be joined by the brightest and the most innovative Filipino tech professionals of our generation.

Benj Tupas
- Award-winning Mobile and Web Developer 
- Google Student Ambassador
- Mentor to local and international hackathon camps
- Sought-after speaker in the Philippine tech community

Wayne Manuel
- Technology Officer at National Telehealth Center
- Community Manager at Google Developers Group

Celine Barozzo
- Functional Consultant at IP Converge Data Services, Inc.
- Google App for Education Trainer

Toni Jan Keith Monserrat
- Owner & Founder at Little Qairoes
- Assistant Professor at UPLB

Jomar Tigcal
- Senior Developer at Ayannah Information Systems, Inc.
- More than four years experience in Android apps development
- Developing personal Android apps
- Conducting talks and workshops about Android apps development

Join over 300 IT students and professionals

Students from different universities and IT professionals will be there to experience Google I/O at one of the best educational institutions in Pampanga.

Whether you are a student looking for a co-founder for your first college startup or an IT professional looking for fresh talents to help build your first company, this is the place to be.

Learn new technologies announced at the Google I/O

Design, Web, or Android – take your pick. Breakout sessions are divided into three areas that include Design Thinking and Prototyping, Polymer and Maps Javascript API, and Android Development. Each session will be guided by an expert so you can get a grasp on these new technologies that are shaping the way we use the web. In short, you have the front-row access to the future of computing.

Google I/O Extended Pampanga is made possible with the combined efforts of Google Developers Group Philippines, Pampanga Developers, and Google Business Group Angeles.

For pre and post-event announcements, connect with us on Facebook, and Twitter.

See you there geeks!

We'd like to thank our amazing sponsors: Holy Angel University and the College of Information and Communications Technology as our venue partner, Converge ICT Solutions for our fast internet connection, Q Software Research Corporation and our media partner Trabaho TV. Thanks to the organizations who collaborate to make this event possible: Google Developers Group Philippines, Pampanga Developers, and Google Business Group Angeles.

GBG Angeles Holds 1st Women Techmakers in Pampanga

by Angela Nacpil

In fulfillment of Google’s advocacy on women inclusion and recognition in the male-dominated field of technology, Google Business Group (GBG) Angeles held the first Women Techmakers in Pampanga that featured a series of talks and panel discussions led by Filipina women tech leaders.

The event took place last December 6, 2014 at Century Hotel in Balibago, Angeles City. It is part of a series of events all around the globe that aim to increase visibility, resources and a sense of community for women in the industry.

Women Techmakers Pampanga featured female technology leaders such as Voyager Innovations Data Scientist Reina Reyes, Pangasinan ICT Council President Vanj Padilla, Koodi Systems Founder Rachel Jaro, Canva Philippines Country Manager Kei San Pablo, and Fashion Blogger Khai Nunag.

Panel discussions were also facilitated and led by accomplished Capampangan women entrepreneurs such as freelance marketing consultant and businesswoman Pamela Angeles – Flores, restaurateur and former President of The Hotels and Restaurant Association of Pampanga Mitchi Kaye Otsuru, and Italianeh (Italian bistro) Co-Owner Emily Parmisano.

Our goal at Women Techmakers is to raise the visibility of women’s leadership today. By bringing this kind of event here in Pampanga, we hope to inspire more women to join the tech community! And join the amazing, and active women who are leading the way," said GBG Angeles Founder Carissa Coles.

Click the photo to enlarge

Google believes diversity in the workplace and inclusion is crucial for thriving vibrant communities. Focusing on women-inclusion is the first step towards a more diversified global Google community.

Visit http://womentechmakers.gbgangeles.org/ for more information.

Women Techmakers Comes to Pampanga

Be a part of the biggest women tech event this year happening on December 6, 2014, Saturday from 8am to 5pm at Century Resort Hotel, Angeles City where all women business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs are gathered to connect, inform and inspire.

Women Techmakers: Engineering The Future aims to raise awareness of innovative women leaders in technology and inspire others to join the field. It also aims to increase women's participation in the community activities of Google Business Groups, driving technology-enabled entrepreneurship opportunities and helping women become more successful by leveraging the power of the Internet from the early stage of their startups.

A whole day of learning and Googley-fun event awaits you! Free, open and exclusive to all women in tech and non-tech industries.

Limited seats available. RSVP to http://goo.gl/C6XLOa

For more information, email gbgangeles@gmail.com or call/text 09165260053. You may visit our Facebook group and G+ page for more updates.