idc 

PICS Planning at Oakwood

picsplanning

The other weekend the new board of the Philippine Internet Commerce Society spent its precious 'rest' time to plan for the year's activities. Oakwood as suggested by Winthrop was a great choice!

I was able to attend a seminar at oakwood when it newly opened but never got the chance to see and stay in its serviced apartment till this time. We got a two room place and it was complete with washing machine, dryer, dvd and vcd player plus broadband which was a requirement.

Unfortunately, we were not really able to make use of all the luxurious amenities for presentations, discussions, including hooking up with Bobby who was in the US took us till past 4am therefore all we can do then was just sleep :(

We were forced to wake up early despite the fatigue for we didnt want to miss the sumptuous buffet breakfast. If we were not able to use all the other hotel comforts at least we were sure we didnt forsake the meal :)

Not in photo is Mike who had to escape a few hours for a date (!) and Bobby who was in San Francisco.

The Blog Mania

Early last week I got an invitation to join yahoo 360, a community of sorts which includes blogging. A few days later I received another blog invite this time from Friendster! Friendster has partnered with type pad. I was excited to use its other features esp the links and, gosh I forgot the term but its something you drag on the browser so next time you want to post a link to a story you dont need to open your friendster blog to post. Unfortunately it has so many bugs that its a feat just trying out some of the other features. I guess Google is still tops for having the first mover advantage as well as using Picassa and hello for the photo hosting. I think Yahoo bought Flickr but I prefer picassa :)

Was glued to the TV - Pope Benedict XVI

new pope

I was glued to the TV despite the fact that I am rushing a presentation. Why? Because it seems the smoke coming out of the rooftop was white. CNN was skeptic saying it will turn black but BBC was more hopeful.

True enough the cardinals were able to decide fast enough. A couple of days ago, some friends were trying to guess who would replace the past pope and some expressed their displeasure over some popular candidates and the newly elected pople was one of those due to his conservative reputation.

I never really had a favorite. I believed and prayed that whoever the Lord feels the world will need let it be him. I was thinking that if we were given a conservative Pope then its high time the world needs some stricter and more disciplined directions. A liberal one may provide some hope for those actively clamoring for supposed reforms.

The past days, I sensed that someone from western europe would be chosen. I was not sure who and even thought he will be Italian. As I watch the white smoke prior to the Angelus, I sensed the holy spirit may have chosen a conservative one who will fight for basic catholic theology to avoid the many confusion. The name Ratzinger kept ringing in my ear. I think there is already too much liberalism going on.

True enough when the announcement came, I felt the shivers. I was right. I also chuckled for if I joined the online betting game I would have won :)

I waited for the Urbi et Orbi which means:

"Urbi et Orbi, literally "to the City (of Rome) and to the World", was a
standard opening of Roman proclamations. Nowadays the term is used to denote a papal document that is addressed as to the City of Rome as to the entire Catholic World.

The blessing takes place at each Easter and Christmas
celebrations in Rome at St. Peter's
Square. Part of the "urbi et orbi" ritual is the forgiving of all sins
offered to those who believe in the teachings of the Roman Catholic church and attend the mass at St. Peter's (even via TV or Internet).
It is also used at St. Peter's at the crowning ceremony of the pope and at very rare occasions as the blessing of pilgrims."