Nokia Recycling … look closer

Nokia Recycling — The real intent

Nokia Recycling — This is NOT what Nokia intended

The better way to use the Nokia Recycling Bin

Now this is what Nokia really intended. Here is another recycling bin at Powerplant mall, right in front of the Nokia shop.

Nokia Recycling - the better way - old chargers, phones, batteries etc.

What happened?

Why was the recycle bin in Market Market used as an ordinary bin?
I think it was just the awareness (or lack of) of just one or two people who started throwing ordinary trash into the bin. Then, by visual example, people started throwing ordinary trash as well.

I think this shows how some people can be “spaced out”, sometimes leading their life unconsciously.

As Steve Pavlina would exhort: “Live consciously!”

ka edong
conscious

In the video, I’ll show you how to access Facebook via mobile Internet (m.facebook.com) .

I’ll show you what Facebook Mobile looks like in a mobile phone.

Enjoy the video and do leave a note to give feedback. Cheers!

ka edong
follow me, it’s alright: http://www.twitter.com/ka_edong

Facebook Mobile Internet demo by Ka Edong

Update: See online video here c/o Janette: Mobile Blogging by Edwin 1/2 (2/2)

And, as usual, there were a few inputs that I had planned to give, but was not able to say it right there. I also got some good feedback from the audience and I’d like to clarify their questions and share it to readers. Good thing I can still put out these inputs through my blog ;-).

For my iBlog5 postcript, I’d like to share my beginnings as a mobile blogger, my story about mobile blogging in the 2004 elections, my support for blogging (and mobile blogging) for the 2010 elections as well as a few thank you notes.

My first mobile blog post

My First Mobile Blogpost: Birth of Technobiography

When I was preparing for my talk at iBlog5, I looked into my blog archives and was pleasantly, um, pleased to find out that …

My first Technobiography blogpost in April 11, 2004 was actually written using Brosia, my cellphone circa 2003-2007.

I realized that when I started out blogging, I was already using an element of mobile blogging – using my cellphone to capture “urgent” thoughts. Urgent because I couldn’t sleep with this “Technobiography manifesto” running in my mind.

Mobile Blogging: Ganito ako nuon, ganito na tayo ngayon

At iBlog5 yesterday, it was an “old friend” reunion of sorts getting re-acquainted face-to-face with JM Tuazon.

You see, JM and I first met as volunteers of NAMFREL in the 2004 elections. JM and I had maintained an online interaction through the years via email or through each other’s blogs.

Wow, it’s been 5 years since our NAMFREL days in 2004.
And now we’re 365+1 days before the next election in 2010.

Which brings me to two thoughts:

1. The beginnings of mobile blogging for elections in 2004
2. and mobile blogging for the elections in 2010.

Ganito ako nuon, ganito tayo ngayon

Ganito ako nuon


I remember how in 2004, I was already mobile blogging even with the limited tools available. I didn’t have a wifi laptop or netbook back then. So I created ways to blog from my cellphone with the tools that I DID have.

At that time, I had a GPRS connection on Brosia, my cellphone. I didn’t want to be blogging directly from my phone to Blogspot’s website. Because it was still expensive back then (we were charged on a per kB basis back then). Not only was it expensive for me, but it was also slow and clanky for my purposes.

The solution I create was a combination of text messaging, an SMS-to-email service and Blogspot’s e-mail-to-blog feature to mobile blogging the elections on Technobiography.

The results of that solution, you will find at these blogposts in May 2004. (They include post-production updates done via desktop). I even had an election photo blog! Early bloomer pala ako

• Light for All
• TXT blogging for NAMFREL Phase-down Dinner
• phase-d0wn dinner
• NAMFREL Volunteers photoblogging
• My Elections blog posts (May 2004 archive)

NAMFREL Photo blogging! -- Do you recognize that teenager in a yellow shirt?

Ganito tayo ngayon

Yesterday, I presented a whole lot more highly developed tools for mobile blogging. (See my presentation , with links).

Towards the end, I made a call to action: “Create Value!”.

I also wanted to tie that in with the other talks that came in the afternoon, specifically Blogging for the elections.

I see the criticality of delivering timely blog posts, whether before, during or after the Elections.

“Timely” will mean different things for different situations and for different story-telling styles.

But when “timely” means “immediate” or “now”, mobile blogging will be a critical tool for bloggers to put out their story, even if (or *because*) the story is in its most plain, most pure, although plausibly incomplete.

I’d like to send this message to fellow-bloggers:

by blogging about the elections, we can contribute to the awareness, the transparency, and the general movement of citizen participation in the elections.

Thus, I enjoin fellow-bloggers to participate in blogging for the elections. You can do it in your own way. And you can also do it as part of a group. Janette has created the Blogging for Elections site. Feel free to approach Janette if you want to contribute.

My action item: As for me, I will continue to provide mobile blogging demos that will help bloggers equip themselves with tools for the time they will need, either for blogging the elections or for blogging what else they are passionate about.

“Wrap-up”

I’d like to thank the organizers of iBlog5. It was a good experience.

I’m glad to hear from those who gave feedback that I had raised their awareness about Mobile Blogging. I take your feedback well and will be creating more demos to show you more clearly the mobile blogging tools available out there.

I learned a lot from the other iBlog5 speakers too. I’ll catch up on videos for the talks I missed.

I’d like to highlight the very well-though-out talk of Anton Diaz on taking Blogging to the next level. Excellent insights!

Salamat po, doktor!

• Salamat po sa Baleno at sa VC Trading for my shirt (http://www.busyPrinting.com, vctradingcubao@gmail.com 0918-923-4883, 2F Farmers Plaza Cubao)
• Salamat kay Erick sa super spiffy Technobiography sticker ni Honoria Purificacion.
  Erick’s sticker shop is at 2nd floor of Robinson’s Pioneer (malapit sa electronics area).
  Contact: Erick (0928-3315642) or Maricel (0928-3088061) — tell them “Technobiography.com” referred you.

My Technobiography shirt and My trusted laptop friend Honoria Purificacion, a true Pinay!

• Salamat sa iBlog5 organizers for having me as a speaker

Ka Edong at iBlog5

iBlog5 Link lovin’

• iBlog5 website, conference programme and speakers
• Dean Jorge Bocob - Philippine Commentary -  Thank you for approaching me. Feel free to email me so we can continue our discussion
• Arvin T. Ello - Vintersections - thanks for your feedback.
• Jane Uymatiao - Yogini from Manila
• PG Punla - ScoutAreaOnline.com
• Mannix Pabalan - AyosDito.ph
• (more links to come … simba muna ako)

Update: … more links c/o Janette

Live stream feed last May 9

• Blogging 101 by AJ and Mica 1/2 (2/2)
• Photo Blogging 101 by Faith and Fritz 1/2 (2/2)
• Mobile Blogging by Edwin 1/2 (2/2)
• Do’s and Don’ts of Blogging by Benj and Juned 1/2 (2/2)
• Blog Promotion and Traffic Generation Strategies by Coy and Winston 1/2 (2/2)
• Legal Issues in Blogging by JJ
• COMELEC on Blogging and Bloggers by James Jimenez 1/2 (2/2)
• Corporate Blogging by Mannix Pabalan of AyosDito.ph
• Blog Marketing & Advertising insights by Jayvee
• Problogging by Fitz 1/2 (2/2)
• The Secret Behind Taking Your Blog to the Next Level by Anton

Video

• RPs Blogging Community Preparing for the 2010 Polls (GMA News)
• iBlog5 (Sonnie)
• Interview on iBlog5, iBlog6, and the Top 10 Emerging Blogs Project (Carlo)

Photos

• Skiper
• Aethen
• AJ
• Focal Glass
• Ada
• Dexter
• Jen
• Rochelle
• Nina
• Xere
• Azrael
• Ada
• Arbet
• Rommel
• Noemi

Blog posts

• iBlog5: PhotoBlogging Discussion Complement (Fritz)
• iBlog5 Summit
• My iBlog5 Experience
• iBlog5: Bloggers are Mutants
• Chronicles of iBlog 5 (Jorich)
• iBlog5: The Philippine Blogging Summit Aftermath (Micaela)
• Bakla Goes to iBlog5 (AJ)
• iBlog5 tackles blogger’s role in election (Patricia)
• iBlog5: Back to the Basics of Blogging (John)
• The iBlog5 Experience (Marhgil)
• iBlog 5: My first blogging event (Randy)
• My iBlog5 Experience (Maureen)
• The Thirsty Blogger Attends iBlog 5 (Fitz)
• Success of iBlog5: Congratulations (Gilbert)
• IBLOG5 and Taboo (Juned)
• Deconstructing the iBlog5 Summit (Fencesitter)
• How to blog about blogging (Tikisoka)
• Timeline of unreported noteworthy occurrences at the 5th Philippine Blogging Summit (V)
• The Secret in Taking Your Blog to the Next Level (Anton)
• The iBlog5 Experience (N.F. Trapa)
• COMELEC is PHAIL (Laya)
• iBlog5 is the 5th Philippine Blogging Summit (Jehzlau)
• Ukay-ukay Escapades at iBlog5! (Madz)
• Are you Evolving as a Blogger? (by Anton Diaz @ iBlog5) (Lawrence)
• Post iblog5 (Christa)
• My iBlog5: The 5th Philippine Blogging Summit Experience (Jeffrey)
• iBlog5 (Carl)
• Photoblogging 102, tequila shots, dancing and hulabaloo at iBlog5 (Poyt)
• Blogging for Bloggers (Rene)
• My iBlog5 Aftermath (Leira)
• iBlog Experience (Maria Katrina)
• iBlog5 5th Philippine Blogging Summit at UP Diliman (Tonyo)
• Top 5 Tips That Probloggers Will Usually Not Tell You About Making Money Online (Fitz)
• At iBlog5 (Arbet)
• Blogger Evolution and 4 Types of Bloggers (Carlo)
• iBlog5: So many bloggers… so little time… (Roy)
• 5th Philippine Blogging Summit (Benito)
• iBlog5 Thoughts (Regnard)
• Live Blogging at Iblog 5 | Pictures and Experience @ iblog 5 (Dexter)
• iBlog5: The 5th Philippine Blogging Summit (Jen)
• iBlog5: The 5th Philippine Blogging Summit (Rochelle)
• iBlog5 Summit and It’s Munificent Speakers (Ada)
• iblog5 - A Success (Mon)
• iBlog5, therefore I am (Kevin)
• iBlog5: A FabOUlous Event (Kring)
• The iBlog5 Summit (EdZee)
• iBlog5 Postscript - of Mobile Blogging and the Elections (Edwin)
• What I Learned From The iBlog5 Philippine Blogging Summit (Earth)
• I Blog 5 (Rommel)
• My iBlog5 Experience (Snow)
• iBlog5 Post Event Coverage and Reasons Why You Should Go to iBlog6 (Carlo)
• iBlog5- 5th Philippine Blogging Summit (Noemi)
• iBlog5: The Philippine Blogging Summit (Villa)
• iBlog5, and Coffee With Girl Friday (Judd)
• Blogging About My iBlog5 Experience (Louis)
• iBlog 5 (Niki)
• Ako Mismo a hot topic on iBlog5 (Lawrence)

iBlog5

I’ll be posting my complete powerpoint presentation here, as well as the links to various resources.

Update: Here’s an online copy of my presentation: Mobile Blogging 101 by Ka Edong.
Glad to be part of iBlog5, see old friends and get acquainted with new friends.
Feel free to leave comments or send me an email if you have clarifications.  .

Mobile Blogging 101 at iBlog5 by Ka Edong

I’ll also try out live streaming video using kyte or qik during the conference. Let’s see how this goes….
Kyte:

Qik:

Looking forward to seeing online friends in the flesh. Kitakits!

ka edong
qik, go to sleep!

This week for my e-Government article, I write about government websites related to volunteer work. I chose this topic to expose my readers to more opportunities to be of service to our country. (Visit www.edwinsoriano.com for my list of volunteer programs in the Philippines)

This article features the Volunteer Registry by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) under NEDA.

The Volunteer Registry by the DSWD

The Volunteer Registry by DSWD

About the Volunteer Registry

In its effort to mobilize volunteers for disaster risk management and response, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) launched the Online Registry of Volunteers last January 23,2007.

The registry is a proactive step in preparing for natural and man-made disasters. It will serve as the national database of volunteers for disaster operations and facilitate the deployment of appropriate volunteers to an emergency or disaster operation.

The site has an on-going registry of individual volunteers and organization volunteer.

I signed-up as an individual volunteer. I was asked, among other things, for info about my background, the type of volunteer work I could pitch in, emergency contact information etc.  The information will be used when volunteers are needed in cases of emergency or disaster operations.

The Organization Volunteer page allows an organization to register as a “group” volunteer. This could be a good opportunity for Corporate Social Responsibility programs.

Read more about the Volunteer Registry and their FAQs.

Contact the DSWD Social Welfare Institutional Development Bureau
Telephone:     (632) 931-81-01 local 405
Or visit their website at http://vrplus.dswd.gov.ph

Volunteer Registry e-Gov Scorecard*:

• Stage 1: Emerging - 5 of 5
• Stage 2: Enhanced - 4 of 5
• Stage 3: Interactive - 3 of 5
• Stage 4: Transactional - 2 of 5

Conclusion: The Volunteer Registry is a Stage 3 Interactive e-Government Website

PNVSCA

Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA)

The PNVSCA “is the government agency in charge of promoting and coordinating all volunteer service matters in the Philippines.”

They have three categories for volunteer programs:

1. Local Volunteer Programs - Filipinos volunteering in their own area
2. Volunteer Exchange Programs - Filipinos volunteering in other countries
3. International Volunteer Service Programs - Foreigners doing volunteer work in the Philippines

Let’s focus on how Filipinos can volunteer in their own area.

There is the Volunteers for Information and Development Assistance (VIDA) program which taps the skills of Filipinos for development projects in communities where they live.

The Volunteers for Information and Development Assistance (VIDA) Program is the platform for local volunteering designed for Filipino volunteers who wish to share their skills and know how in the development projects of their own community. It provides youths and adults the opportunity to hone their skills further through volunteering.

Visit the VIDA program webpage for the application procedure or to download the application form.

Bayanihang Bayan is a Volunteer Program for Government Service

Bayanihang Bayan builds cooperation between government and the private sector in enjoining the participation of Filipino youths, mid-career professionals, retirees and overseas Filipinos in the implementation of government programs and projects.

The Bayanihang Bayan program engages various government agencies as implementing partners.

1. For the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), volunteers can help implement training, scholarships or accreditation programs.
2. The Department of Environment and Natural Resouces (DENR) has volunteer programs like adopt-a-mountain, coastal clean-ups or tamaraw conservation.
3. The Department of Education (DepEd) has programs such as adopt-a-school, teaching development, learning support etc.
4. The Department of Health (DOH) implements medical services outreach programs with volunteers
5. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) implements professional services and capacity building.

The PNVSCA provides downloadable forms, feature stories and photographs of volunteers and their very own blog.

Visit PNVSCA the website at http://www.pnvsca.neda.gov.ph/
Contact the PNVSCA for more details.

e-Gov Scorecard*:

• Stage 1: Emerging - 5 of 5
• Stage 2: Enhanced - 4 of 5
• Stage 3: Interactive - 1 of 5
• Stage 4: Transactional - 0 of 5
  

Conclusion: The PNVSCA has a Stage 2 Enhanced e-Government Website

* The e-Government Scorecard is based on UN-ASPA Stages of e-Government as adopted by Digital Philippines for its study on e-Government.

ka edong
volunteer

Quick info:

How to join AKO MISMO:
Visit the website at www.akomismo.org and make your pledge. Ako Mismo Links:

• About
• FAQs
• Contact
• Who is Behind Ako Mismo?
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Commitment Wall (as of May 7, login required) publicly viewable, May 7, 1:16pm

Where to get AKO MISMO dogtags:
Update (May 7): FAQs say dogtags will be available in “next few weeks”.
Update (May 30): The Dog Tags are coming (< — this page requires login) (Thanks mel for info)
Update (June 14):  AKO MISMO Dog Tag Day Posters; AKO MISMO Dog Tag Day Videos

• First public launch of Dog Tags:
  AKO MISMO DOG TAG DAY on June 12 at the Fort concert grounds in Taguig.
• “By July, dog tags will be made available in 400 Mail & More outlets nationwide for P40. Again, proceeds will go towards socio-civic and charity works that AKO MISMO is supporting. We will publish the amounts raised for each of our charities on this website.” - www.akomismo.org

How can I help?
Many ways to help in nation-building.

First, here’s the clip. Second (after the clip), let me tell you how I feel and what I think about this whole campaign.

What is AKO MISMO?

From what I’ve seen and read, AKO MISMO is a campaign.

It’s a campaign for Filipinos to take action towards helping the Philippines rise and move forward.

It’s a campaign to help instill the awareness in Pinoys to take action instead of complain or blame.

We each have a role in making our country great! Not just somebody else’s role.

It’s MY role! It’s OUR role to make the Philippines a great country!

(read what the www.akomismo.org website says about the campaign).

AKO MISMO - my own thoughts, my own words.

JM and I share the same feeling about seeing this video. Nakaka-pangilabot!

Frankly, the first time I saw the ad, I was half-expecting to see an endorsement for another politician.

Pero dehins, men!

This ad was about us Filipinos taking-charge!

This campaign is about us Filipinos taking responsibility for our beloved country and doing our share, each in our own way.

In an exchange of messages via Facebook, JM and I reminisced about our NAMFREL volunteer days.

That role of helping our country, that’s the feeling I’m feeling now!

And it’s so exciting finding out that hundreds of thousands of Filipinos are taking a stand and making a commitment to help our country.

All star cast

Ely Buendia, Charise Pempengco, Maxine Magalona (and truly and strongly I feel Francis M is in there too!), Mon Fernandez, Efren (Kuya F, behind a kariton school ), Luis Manzano, a priest, a muslim lady, a medical technician, Angel Locsin, Arnel Pineda, a women’s rights advocate, a Pinoy Hollywood director, and more …

These are the people who captured and communicated, in this video, the commitment for our country! Ang galing! Ang galing!

The www.akomismo.org website

I visited the website just an hour ago. And I am overwhelmed! In a span of 7 hours, they’ve gathered 14,000 commitments on the wall of commitments from thousands of Filipinos.

My first commitment was to write about www.akomismo.org . And I’m doing it right now!

Ka Edong Pledge number 1: Write about www.akomismo.org - Done!

My excitement


Why am excited about all this?

I feel it’s the unity of EDSA revolution
on an individual level,
and with the common awareness of each other’s commitment,
and the awareness that we’re in this together!.

Let me just write in bullets.

• It’s about time! It’s about time we Filipinos band together and take action in making our country rise!
• The timing was perfect! At a time when Manny Pacquiao takes to the ring and makes the Filipino proud and united - perfect time for the Filipinos to take this to the next level.
• Nakaka-pangilabot! I watched the video again and again and I know this is big.
• I pray to the good Lord that this campaign will touch the hearts of millions of Filipinos the way it has touched me!
• Is this a tipping point for the Philippines?
• Where’s Gang Badoy and Rock.Ed Philippines? Are they involved? Get them involved! This is a campaign that Rock.Ed Philippines has been doing for many years. “No more excuses, Philippines!” “Tama na reklamo, kumilos nalang tayo!”  They have much to contribute in helping in this campaign. Include http://www.onetama.com/ as well!
• I see there are thousands of commitments already on the commitment wall. I see people committing to be a better Filipino, to committing to not litter, committing to pray for the Philippines, committing to join volunteer work, committing to make a video for Filipinos etc.
• This wall of commitments is powerful! It sends a powerful message that “I will do my part” to help our country and thousands more are doing their part! Powerful!
• I see that some of these commitments come from people who didn’t understand what they were writing (e.g. “ako mismo ang mag-search”, “ako mismo kakain na ako”, “ako mismo web developer”, “ako mismo sign up”)  — these obviously came from people who didn’t understand that what they were writing was going to be published in the form of a commitment on the commitment wall. The website must help people understand better what committments we are looking for.
• What I fear is that people might start vandalizing the commitment wall with kalokohan. I’ve already seen some bordering on kalokohan. The web-administrator of www.akomismo.org better be ready for attacks like that. We can’t avoid that there will be people who will try to ruin a good thing.

• Where can I get the Ako Mismo dog tags!? I want to wear it, and I will wear it proud!

Ako Mismo dog tags - I want!

Now what!?


My action steps:

• Commitment #1: write about www.akomismo.org — done
• tell my friends about it — done
• get an ako mismo dog tag - done (june 12)
  
• sign-up for more commitments — ako mismo ang gagawa ng sarili kong commitments! — done ; But wait, there’s more!

Bloggers unite! Link-lovin for this AkoMismo campaign …

• Carlo Ople - New Media, doubts and concerns, deconstructing
• Karla Redor - Rocker’s World
• Ka Edong - Technobiography
• Joey Alarilla at CNET Asia (Yey!) , Life as a Catalyst
• PinoyBlog ni Boyet
• Martin Perez - Web Activism or Sugar High
• renn.poshqueen.us
• Bikoy.net (a dissenting opinion)
• Doc Angelo - Beyond Toxicity
• Juned - Baratilyo.net
• Anton Diaz - Our Awesome Planet
• The Coffee Chic
• Starmometer - Kapuso and Kapamilya Stars Unite in ‘Ako Mismo’ Advocacy
• Flickr Discussion by Dirthman
• Bob Ong - BobOng PinoY
• Tristan Cafe
• Tropang Spider
• MineBurst
• Buzz Express
• Ramon Fernandez on Multiply
• alteredaura - Free Radicals
• Maver - Gossip Gehl
• Jhay Rocas - The Four Eyed Journal
• Otep - Libre lang mangarap
• Purpose Driven Paul
• Arnold Gamboa - Resurgenc 2.0
• Gang Badoy - abashet
• faintless
• Super Bong - The Philippines and Beyond
• Bry  - Constant Random Change
• Jolly Life
• Inquirer.net Blogs
• Da Brighter Side
• Judd Sta Maria
• Noemi Dado - About My Recovery
• Lawrence Villegas - A Practical Magician’s Post
• Reyjr - Born on a Syzygy

comment below or send me an email and I’ll add your link to this list: ka_edong at edwinsoriano.com

Microblogs / Forums / Discussions

• Plurk
• Twitter
• PhilMUG
• CandyMag.com
• TipidPC.com
• The Digital Pinoy
• PEP
• Tsikot

Find more blogs about Ako Mismo:

• pledges to “blog” on Ako Mismo commitment wall
• More “Ako Mismo” blogs via Google Search
• TopBlogs’ “Ako Mismo” roundup

Related links:

• Similar campaign: OneTama http://www.onetama.com/ — I like how they track “doing action” and “completed”! Galing!
• Edu Manzano announced this pala last month: Edu Spearheads “Ako Mismo” (April 23, 2009 on PEP).
• Article on ABS-CBN News Online - PLDT Chairman denies he’s running in 2010
• Inquirer: Smart denies owning patriotism campaign site
• ABS-CBN News: ‘Ako Mismo’ campaign questioned over privacy

ka edong
ako mismo ang kikilos para sa bayan

Disclosure here. Past life here, present here.

Pacquiao After the Bout (on my mobile phone, live)

PACQUIAO vs. HATTON LIVE on your mobile phone on May 3 at 8am.

• For Nokia phones, click http://m.smart.com.ph/pacman2
• For other phones, click http://m.smart.com.ph/pacman3
• P20+P15/30mins streaming charge.

More Pacquiao downloads

• Abangan ang laban. Maging updated sa latest news of the fight, i-text ang SNEWS sa 2366. p2.50/text
• Download Pacman Caller Ringtunes now!
  LAHINGPINOY – Lahing Pinoy
  TOTOYBATO – TV series ni Pacman
  Text <Keyword> to 2728 Ex. LAHINGPINOY P15/15days
• For more downloads, go to http://m.smart.com.ph/pacman

I used an image from the web, here’s some link-lovin to the source of that image: www.pacquiaovideo.com

Manny, itaas ang bandila ng Pilipinas!

Update May 3, 11pm:

I actually didn’t catch the fight on my mobile phone. It was finished too soon! I did catch some excerpts after the bout, and that’s what I captured in the videos below.

Btw, I was using Liway, my Sony Ericsson P990i phone — not a high-end Nokia myTV-phones (Nokia N77, N92, or N96).

ka edong
Hoy! Pinoy ako!

In this article, we discuss how the DOH is providing information about Swine Flu. The article continues to showcase the information and features of the DOH website. - ka edong

With all the news about the Swine Flu virus, it’s important to raise *rational* awareness (and not *fear*) about the epidemic. In the Philippines, the DOH is at the helm of situations like these.

What does the DOH website have to offer for this current health alert and for other health concerns?
Here is this week’s review of government websites.

DOH Website April 29, 2009

Let’s start with the pressing issue at the moment: Here is the official statement of DOH on the Swine Flu situation. It’s prominently displayed on the front page. But I’m searching for more up-to-date information and I can’t find it on DOH at the moment.

For Flu reports: immediately report to:
National Epidemiology Center and/or the Health Emergency Management Staff. (DOH HOTLINE: 7111001 / 7111002)

Now for the website review. I’ll start with a recap of what we wrote about the DOH website back in 2002 when we first studied e-government.

DOH - Stage 3
The DOH website features statistics, advisories, information on health programs, policies, and FAQs on Diseases. They have downloadable application forms (MSWord format) for hospital accreditation, checklists and requirements. Various databases are also available.

Basic Information

The DOH website has all of the basic information expected from a government website. It has the department information including names, contact numbers and email addresses of key officials, org structures, a location map and even the department budget!

The website has a compilation of health advisories, laws, events and promos.

There’s a long list of health programs ranging from Food and waterborne diseases, new born screening, Family Planning, Smoking cessation program, Blood Donation, Dengue Control Program, Food Fortification Program. Clicking the links will provide the reader with more information about the program. Some health programs have weblinks to the specific program website featuring more in-depth information.

The DOH portal has some health knowledge products that includes a good compilation of Health Statistics. There’s a section on news clippings - literally clipped from print-publications, scanned and filed online — an outdated way of archiving knowledge, really.

They have publications, research and statistics, and databases (in excel or plain table format).

There’s the Fourmula One program which provides details on the Roadmap for health sector reforms in the PHilippines (2005-2010). Health events includes a calendar of activities, seminars and conferences.

There are a few downloadable templates including a form for the Philippine Registry for Persons with Disability.

Some “Remarkables”

• The DOH as an online facility for publishing job openings, or “e-jobs” . It provides details for projects or consultancies and includes a template for writing an application CV. Attached agencies can post their openings online (requires login).
• For transparency, DOH has a section that describes doing business with the department.  It contains information for the complete cycle from Procurement, Licensing and Regulation and Accreditation. Important also for transparency is the “Notice of Awards” that announces all business/professional engagements done by the department.
• There is a Web-enabled price monitoring info system described as “a user-friendly, microcomputer system designed for fast and efficient monitoring of drug and office supplies prices and reporting.The system will allow you to manipulate, combine and extract information from multiple database files. ” I couldn’t tell how well it works as it requires a login for authorized personnel.
• The website has a wide inventory of FAQs! Topics range from diseases, to health programs and even website FAQs. I see that each of the FAQs are maintained by a specific group or attached agency — all good for ownership and accountability.
• The search section let’s you extract articles based on your keyword.
• There’s a food fortification program that provides search functionality and gives access to documents in DOH library. Useful for students who want to do advance research before visiting the DOH library.
• The National Epidemiology Center has a software for “handling epidemiologic data in questionnaire format and for organizing study designs and results into text that may form part of written reports.” — In essence (i think), it’s a software that can be used to track an epidemic.
• The DOH website has forums setup, but it does not have much recent activity. They have an Intranet and a DOH webmail service. There’s also a mobile service that let’s the public send SMS messages to the DOH Secretary’s office.

Evaluation

The DOH has obviously invested resources into putting together a professional-looking website. The Department portal has a seamless appearance but the different program websites or agency websites are obviously maintained in a de-centralized fashion. I think that will be the trend for most department websites.

There is a lot of information in the website but it looks like it’s not easy for a first time visitors to find the information they are looking for. The website can use some improvement in the way they do “Search”. For instance, I encountered at least four search functions in the website. Visitors will definitely benefit from a consolidated search (and I know this is not easy to do for a de-centralized collection of websites).

Perhaps the DOH is more of a knowledge, awareness and monitoring agency. Apart from employment and service engagement, I do not see any G2C (Government to Citizen) transactions done online.

I’m sure there’s more than meets the eye behind the DOH website. Perhaps it’s just a matter of understanding how a truly interested visitor can make good use of the website.

Scorecard:

• Stage 1: Emerging - 5 of 5
• Stage 2: Enhanced - 5 of 5
• Stage 3: Interactive - 4 of 5
• Stage 4: Transactional - 0 of 5
  

Conclusion: The DOH Website is an Stage 3 Interactive e-Government Website

Contact DOH:
Address: 2006 Republic of the Philippines, Department of Health
San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila
Telephone: (+632) 743-8301 to 23
Website: http://www.doh.gov.ph
Contact: http://www.doh.gov.ph/contact_us

Text DOH
To all mobile users: Type doh or dohsec [space] [message]. Send to 2960 for all subscribers.

p.s. The Philhealth website is a different story and deserves its own separate website review.

ka edong
healthy - mental, physical, emotional, spiritual

Smart came out with Mobile Internet data plans last week, both for pre-paid and post-paid.

Smart Buddy All Day Surf

The features of Smart’s All day surf data plans:

• Lowest per-minute rate in the market
• Available for prepaid subscribers
• First with status inquiry facility, wherein you can check your remaining minutes

Rates:

• Regular Internet access is at P10/ half hour
• Budget surf is at P50 / 5 hours
• Daily surf is at P100 / 12 hours

With the Smart Mobile Internet data plan, you can do your surfing for as low as Php 0.14 per minute .

You can check your mobile internet data plan status  to know your current subscription plan and time remaining. You can check using your mobile or by logging on to the Smart portal.

See detailed guidelines and mechanics at the Smart website.

For new Smart Gold post-paid subscribers, they get an hour of free mobile internet per month. See details of UNO promo on the Smart website.

Other Mobile Internet data plans

For Globe subscribers, I still see a rate of P5 for 15 minutes. I believe they came out with another plan, but I don’t see it in their website. You can check out Globe’s mobile data plans on their website (log-in required).

Updates (29April):

• Here’s the link to Globe’s mobile surfing plans. Thanks Reggie for the link!
• Write-up on Globe’s mobile surfing plans at Technogra.ph .
• And another from my online buddy Kapitan Jepoy .

For Sun subscribers, I couldn’t find info on the web regarding their mobile internet data plans. Can anybody share a link? (If you have more info, please share via comments section below)

Update (May 7):  P10/30 minutes  on mobile internet. From my friend Reggie:

i forgot to mention, regarding Sun’s rates, they are now offering Php 10 per 30 minutes and can even go as low as Php 6.25. here’s the url: http://www.suncellular.com.ph/broadband.php

Value for money

To see which data plan works best for you, you’ll need to consider a few things:

• how much surfing time are you expecting to do?
• how much are you willing to pay to get a data plan?

Peso-by-peso, you’ll be able to compute which plan will give you the best value for money. For example, Smart’s P100/12 hours gives you  Php0.14 per minute. You can make a similar computation for the other data plans.

You’ll also have to see how much you’ll need to shell out to avail of the data plan at that per-minute rate. Choose wisely.

Mobile Internet getting more and more affordable

The trend I see now is that mobile internet access is beginning to become more and more affordable. The past benchmark was the next-door internet shop which typically would provide Internet access at P20 per hour. That’s as much as the regular mobile internet access is: P10/30 mins.

Now, Smart’s data plan is giving it at P8.30 per hour.

Of course the browsing experience will always be different for desktop and for mobile phone.

But at the end of it all, we’re providing internet access to more and more Filipinos.

Some day soon, many more Filipinos will be accessing the Internet for the very first time through the mobile phone and not through the computer in an Internet shop. That day is coming! Soooon!

ka edong
way of the peaceful mobile warrior

Cignal TV Satellite Dish

After the jump, some first impressions and a lot of information from the flyers.
AND a video interview with a Cignal representative. Thanks to Bernie for the video interview!

First impressions

Digital TV at P390 per month? Not bad, compared to around P500 for cable TV.

Uptake of the service will depend on a couple of factors: Quality, Delivery, Price (QDP).

I don’t know yet about the Q and the D, but I do have some details about the service offering and the Price. I can imagine that there’ll be a huge queue for installations, especially with the huge satellite dish that has to be installed accurately facing a specific compass direction.

The service is currently delivering plain-definition TV. By June 2009, high-definition TV (HDTV) will be available.

Channels currently available:

• ABS-CBN
• GMA
• 5 TV
• Q TV
• Studio 23
• NBN
• CIS9
• IBC
• etc
• 2nd Avenue
• Net24
• b
• HBO
• Disney
• Cartoon Network
• CNN
• PBO
• Viva Cinema
• AXN
• bio

Overheard, still to come: Discovery travel and living.

From the flyer:

One-Time set-up fee: P5,500

Package includes:
Installation Fee
Set Top Box with free remote control
Cignal Card
Satellite Dish and Cables

One year lock-in period.

Installation fee may vary depending on the location and materials that will be used for the equipment

Cignal TV Set top box and remote control

According to a representative: One TV is to one Set top box. One satellite dish can accommodate multiple set top boxes.

Monthly Fees (Vat Inclusive)

Postpaid Monthly Subscription Fee: P390 per month
Prepaid Service Fee
P390 for 30 days

Requirements

Postpaid
a.) Proof of Billing (any utility bill under the subscriber’s name)
b.) Proof of Income (payslip, ITR, Certificate of Employment - with details of salary)

Prepaid
a.) Proof of Billing

Application Procedure

• a.) Fill-out application form
• b.) Attach Proof of Billing
• c.) Pay one-time set-up fee
• d.) Submit to Cignal authorized dealer

COVERAGE AREAS:

Metro Manila
Luzon:  Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga,
Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bataan, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon
Visayas:  Bohol, Leyte, Samar
Mindanao:  Agusan Del Norte, Agusan Del Sur, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur

For Inquiries, Contact Cignal:

• cignalcare@mediascape.com.ph
• 02-8956353
• 0908-7699119

Christine Reyes at the Cignal booth, photo from jeromea:

More photos, courtesy of Cignal:

Cignal card

Cignal Dish

Cignal receiver (Set top box)

Cignal Remote Control

ka edong
hi-definition