CyberPress sets 3rd laser tag tourney

CyberPress, the country’s organization of IT journalists, is staging the third edition of its laser tag tournament for local IT firms on April 22 (Thursday), 1 to 6 in the afternoon, at the Lazer Xtreme gaming arena in Market! Market! in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

IT executives from the country’s top technology and BPO firms are expected to slug it out in a friendly competition meant to serve as a continuation of the annual sports tournament organized by the local IT press corps.

The tournament, which will employ a knock-out system, will be held in a high-tech and futuristic venue. Unlike in most war games using high-pressure pellet guns or paint projectiles, Lazer Xtreme provides electronic tag games minus the danger, pain, wardrobes ruined by paint, the need to buy expensive gear, among other concerns, making the game suitable for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes.

Moreover, unlike in many simulation-shooting games that rely mostly on marshals to monitor hits and casualties, the state-of-the-art facility uses infrared signals that are fired through the guns and received by the laser tag vest worn by the other player which registers onto a computer.

IT and BPO companies, as well as organizations coming from the ICT sector, can participate in the games which is also serving as fund-raising activity of the CyberPress. A participation fee of P5,000 will be charged per team (composed of five members). Food and drinks is included in the fee.

To join, contact Melvin Calimag at melvsgc@gmail.com or 09209609984. Please select one of the time slots available so we can manage the games better and avoid delay (1:40, 2:20, 3:00, 4:20, 4:40, and 5:20 PM).

CyberPress joins Consumer Electronics Live Manila 2009

The I.T. Journalists Association of the Philippines (CyberPress) joins Consumer Electronics Live Manila 2009 dubbed "the country’s biggest gadget show and thePhilippines' version of CES," on November 13 to 15, 2009 at the 9,000 square meter floor space World Trade Center Halls A-C.

A key acivity of CyberPress will include an industry survey in line with the 2nd CyberPress IT Choice Awards next December.

According to Gerard de Guzman, General Manager of Summit Live, organizers of CEL Manila 2009, "what makes CEL Manila special is the gathering of large and small brands not just to exhibit their products but to sell them as well. I think there is nothing worse for a techie than seeing and salivating over a device on display but then you can’t buy it right there and then. With CEL Manila exhibitors putting together special promos just for the 3 day event, techies are sure to find devices at terrific values."

On its second year, CEL Manila 2009 "will have a greater focus on not just showcasing the latest and greatest gadgets, but on buying them as well," de Guzman said.

For more information about CEL Manila 2009, visit http://celmanila.com.

CyberPress elects new officers for 2010

2010 CyberPress Officers. (From left) Red Samar, Acie Estavillo, Jing Garcia, Marlon Magtira, Verns Joven, Alora Guerrero, Tom Noda, Alma Anonas-Carpio, Mevin Calimag, and Jayson Domantay.

During the organization's General Assembly last October 20 at the Microsoft Philippines headquarters in Makati City, the IT Journalists Association of the Philippines, also known as CyberPress, elected its new Board of Officers for 2010.

The new set of elected CyberPress officers for 2010 are the following:

President - Jing Garcia of Manila Times (2nd term)

Vice President Internal - Melvin Calimag of Manila Bulletin (2nd term)

Vice President External - Red Samar of Manila Bulletin (2nd term)

Finance Officer - Verns Joven of Philippin Star Online (2nd Term)

Constitutional Amendments Officer - Marlon Magtira of Business Mirror Online (2nd term)

Secretary - Alma Anonas of Philippines Graphic (2nd Term)

Membership Officer - Alora Guerrero of Techie.com.ph

The following were appointed by the elected officers as sectoral representatives:

Print - Tom Noda of Computerworld

Broadcast - Jayson Domantay of ABS CBN

Online - Arcie Estavillo of Business World Online

The new officers will be inducted at the Cyberpress Christmas Thanksgiving Gathering on December 18.

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CyberPress elects new officers for 2008-2009

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines – CyberPress, the country’s only organization of IT writers, also known as IT Journalists Association of the Philippines (ITJAP), has elected on Saturday its new set of officers for 2008 to 2009.

The election was held at the Taal Vista Heights resort in this city, right after the press club conducted a Writers Workshop on: “Legal Issues Affecting Online Reporting and Blogging” with Atty. JJ Disini as resource speaker. He is an MA graduate of the Harvard Law School.

The new CyberPress board members are: Jing Garcia, president (TechTimes Section Editor, The Manila Times, and Editor of Speed Magazine); Red Samar, vice president for external affairs (InfoTech Section Editor, The Manila Bulletin); Melvin Calimag, vice president for internal affairs (reporter, The Manila Bulletin, editor of TechFrontiers Journal, and Contributor of ZDNet Asia); Tom S. Noda, secretary (reporter, Computerworld Philippines); Alma Anonas, membership chairperson (correspondent, BusinessMirror); Vernadette T. Joven, finance officer (reporter, Computerworld Philippines); Marlon Magtira, election and constitutional amendments officer (editor, TechFrontiers Journal, PC Buyer's Guide Philippines/ PC Direct and PC Shopper); Maricel Estavillo, sectoral representative for online (editor, BusinessWorld); and Ed Geronia, Jr., sectoral representative for print (editor-in-chief, T3 Philippines).

Calimag, the two-time president of CyberPress and now elected vice president for internal affairs, said the induction of the new officers will take place this coming December, coinciding with the organization’s annual Christmas party. The place and time of the event will yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, Garcia, in his acceptance speech, expressed optimism that CyberPress will grow bigger and stronger in 2009.

“I hope everybody will do better” the newly elected president said, adding that he plans to encourage more membership in the IT press club.

“We would reach out to other media companies and organizations in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao,” Garcia announced.

According to Calimag, 2009 will be a more productive year for CyberPress.

“We expect to accomplish more as a group,” Calimag said, as he informed that CyberPress is preparing to do its last workshop activity for this year also in December. The forum will be about Green IT, an advocacy for companies to practice environment-friendly technologies.

Now with a total of 31 members, CyberPress remains to be the only IT press organization in the Philippines. It is the first IT press club established in South East Asia (SEA) in mid-1996.

The organization’s list of member publications are: BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Computer World Philippines, Enterprise, Gadgets Magazine, GMA News, TechFrontiers Journal, The Manila Bulletin, The Manila Times, Manual Magazine, Maxim Philippines, Outrage Magazine, PC Buyer's Guide, PC Direct, PC Shopper, PC World Philippines, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, PsiCom Publishing, Speed Magazine, T3 Philippines, Tech Frontiers Philippines, The Daily Tribune, and ZDNet Asia.

Web development firm tops CyberPress laser tag tourney

TheDesignPeople, an LA-headquartered Web development company but whose entire staff of Web developers is based in the Philippines, was recently declared as champion in the first CyberPress Laser Tag Tournament held at the Lazer Xtreme gaming arena in Taguig City on Aug. 15.

TheDesignPeople team, bannered by brothers Tiger and Mike Bitanga, dominated the competition from the first round to the final stage with ruthless offense to take the title.

KPO (knowledge process outsourcing) firm BayanTrade and tech vendor Sun Microsystems Phils. were declared first and second runners up, respectively.

Other IT companies who participated in the event were Accenture, Acer Phils., Auction.ph, Brother Phils., E-Games, G2VC, IBM Phils., Level-Up, Microsoft Phils., Neo, Netopia, Nokia-Siemens Network, Prime Communications, Right Computer Systems (RCS), SAS Phils., STI, and 88DB.Com. Prizes were provided by HP Phils. and MSI-ECS Phils.

The fellowship tournament was staged by CyberPress, also known by its formal name IT Journalists Association of the Phils. Inc, as a fund-raising event and also to gather local IT executives in a friendly competition.

The IT press group’s next activity is a forum on the rising popularity of netbooks or sub-laptops to be held at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Greenbelt, Makati City.

The victorious team of TheDesignPeople, with CyberPress president Melvin Calimag of the Manila Bulletin (right).

Second placer BayanTrade team, with CyberPress officers Jen Rubio and Tom Noda of ComputerWorld Philippines (left and 2nd from left).

Third placer Sun Microsystems Philippines, with CyberPress vice president Red Samar (left)

CyberPress stages first laser tag tournament for IT firms

The IT Journalists Association of the Philippines Inc., also known as CyberPress, is staging the first laser tag tournament for local IT companies on Aug. 15, 1 to 6 in the afternoon, at the Lazer Xtreme gaming arena in Market! Market! in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

IT executives from the country’s top technology and BPO firms are expected to slug it out in a friendly competition meant to serve as a continuation of the annual sports tournament organized by the local IT press corps.

The tournament, which will employ a knock-out system, will be held in a high-tech and futuristic venue which opened just two months back. Unlike in most war games using high-pressure pellet guns or paint projectiles, Lazer Xtreme provides electronic tag games minus the danger, pain, wardrobes ruined by paint, the need to buy expensive gear, among other concerns, making the game suitable for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes.

Moreover, unlike in many simulation-shooting games that rely mostly on marshals to monitor hits and casualties, the state-of–the–art facility uses infrared signals that are fired through the guns and received by the laser tag vest worn by the other player which registers onto a computer.

IT and BPO companies, as well as organizations coming from the ICT sector, can participate in the games which is also serving as fund-raising activity of the CyberPress. A participation fee of P5,000 will be charged per team (composed of four members). Food and drinks is included in the fee.

To join, contact Melvin Calimag (melvsgc@yahoo.com) or Relly Carpio (anaksapatero@gmail.com).

CyberPress elects new set of officers for 2007-2008

The Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philipppines Inc. (CyberPress) has recently named its new officers in a general assembly held at Clark, Pampanga.

Elected to the 2007-2008 board of officers were: Melvin Calimag of Manila Bulletin (re-elected president), Jing Garcia of Manila Times (vice president for internal affairs), Red Samar of Manila Bulletin (vice president for external affairs), Jenalyn Rubio of Computerworld Philippines (secretary), Rory Visco of Business Mirror (finance committee head), Lawrence Casiraya of Inquirer.net (membership committee head ) and Marlon Magtira of PC Buyer's Guide (election and constitutional amendments officer).

The following sectoral representatives were also appointed by the board: Tom Noda of Computerworld Philippines (trade publication), Edwin Sallan of Manila Bulletin (print) and Erwin Oliva of Inquirer.net (online).

The new board of officers, under the leadership of its president, looks forward to a fruitful year, with several initiatives already lined-up for the first quarter of its new term.

Established in 1996, CyberPress is the pioneering organization of IT writers in the country working together to achieve common goals of promoting responsible journalism in the IT beat, educating the public about technological developments and industry issues, and fostering better appreciation for technology while cultivating a harmonious IT ecosystem in the country.

CyberPress Issues Clarifications

The Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines Inc., also known as CyberPress, wishes to inform the public of the following:

– Mr. Jerry Liao, originally from Infochat television show but who now writes a column for Inquirer.net and Technews section of Manila Bulletin, has resigned from the press corps due to irreconcilable differences with most members of the organization. His resignation has been unanimously accepted by the Board of Directors and no investigation is being made as opposed to a claim posted in the Infochat blogsite. Furthermore, his resignation is not related to the resignation of Mr. Leo Magno, as again suggested in the blogsite.

– Mr. Magno, a founding member of CyberPress who’s now the executive editor of Inquirer.net, has also resigned from the organization for a different reason. His fellow workers at Inquirer.net, Mr. Joey Alarilla and Mr. Alex Villafania, have resigned as well from the organization for various reasons. Their resignations have been accepted by the Board.

CyberPress is currently spearheading efforts to raise funds for Ms. Betty Daguio-Jose, a founding member of the organization now suffering with a kidney ailment.
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Statement of CyberPress

Cybergreetings and Happy Easter!

One company prominent in the now fast growing e-services sector recently sent our press corps, the Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines or Cyberpress, an invite that was written in a way that may be interpreted as a disguised bribe.

In the spirit of Christian charity, we would like to consider this invitation as one that had been done out of naivete, not malice. However, this matter is important in that it has made us review our own ethical standards.

We would like to publicly call attention to this matter and make known to all who consider themselves as part of the IT sector that any journalist’s acceptance of such an invitation will put said journalist in direct violation of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics. We invoke the conscience clause of said Code of Ethics with regard to this matter.

Reporters who respect themselves and hold fast to the ethics and ideals of the journalism profession receive payments for the stories they write only from their publishers, and their publishers alone.

Any other incentives or emoluments offered to journalists prior to the stories’ publication — most especially by their sources or by the institutions they write about — constitute an underhanded and unethical attempt to unduly influence or, worse, bald-facedly dictate, the contents of any articles these journalists will write.

Such moves are included in the list of actions that constitute “prior latches.” The premise of prior latches covers any actions by outside parties to unduly influence a journalist’s work through direct or indirect bribery and through the simple act of asking when and in what manner a journalist’s articles will by published and what such articles contain.

Media organizations have advertising sections that will happily accommodate such demands as cannot be made on the editorial sections to which journalists belong, so please be so advised.

We hope that this offer shall be the last of any attempts by any party to attempt to unduly influence the manner by which the members of the Cyberpress cover their beat and craft their stories.

We of the ITJAP have always prided ourselves with the fact that the beat we cover is the cutting edge of the 21st century in the Philippines.

Such coverage of the cutting edge also means being on the cutting edge of all efforts to uphold the best and the finest traditions of the Philippine press this Information Age. Unless we maintain our ethics and our integrity, our skill in reportage and our technological savvy will mean nothing.

Hence the Cyberpress’ collective rejection of any attempt to undermine its integrity as a press corps.

Never again should there be any attempts such as this. For any such attempt that follows shall hence be interpreted as done in malice.

Any future attempts similar to this will opposed collectively by Cyberpress and exposed in media — as well as transmitted to other press organizations that are of like mind as Cyberpress.

We want to serve our readers well by giving them news that serves the public interest, not just the interests of a chosen few and we thank you for cooperating in this effort by heeding our sentiments.

Below is the full text of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics as formulated by the Philippine Press Institute and the National Press Club of the Philippines for your reference and guidance.

Journalist’s Code of Ethics

1. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts or to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.

2. I shall not violate confidential information or material given me in the exercise of my calling.

3. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents, and shall properly identify myself as a representative of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication.

4. I shall refrain from writing reports which will adversely affect a private reputation unless the public interest justifies it. At the same time, I shall fight vigorously for public access to information.

5. I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the performance of my duties; nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature which may cast doubt on my professional integrity.

6. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.

7. I shall not in any manner ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.

8. I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.

9. I shall not take unfair advantage of fellow journalists.

10. I shall accept only such tasks as are compatible with the integrity and dignity of my profession, invoking the ‘conscience clause’ when duties imposed on me conflict with the voice of my conscience.

11. I shall comport myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should be my watchword.

CyberPress sets benefit concert

The Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines (ITJAP), popularly known as “CyberPress,” comes to the aid of an ailing former member via a benefit concert on November 10 at the Merk’s Bar Bistro, Greenbelt 2, Makati City.

The concert, entitled “The Perfect Pair,” is a series of exciting shows that kicked off last October 27 and marks the comeback of vocalist Anna Fegi and musical director Toti Fuentes to the local concert scene. The series will culminate on November 22 via an exciting finale at the Captain’s Bar of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

CyberPress, an organization of journalists covering the local information technology (IT) beat, is co-sponsoring the November 10 schedule of “The Perfect Pair” together with Next Mobile, one of the telecommunication service providers in the country, in order to raise funds for the surgery and medication expenses of Betty Daguio-Jose, a former journalist herself and one of the founding members of CyberPress.

Betty was diagnosed with lupus nephritis, a debilitating kidney disease, and doctors have already ordered an immediate kidney transplant. This project of CyberPress also serves as a fitting recognition for Betty’s invaluable help in making IT journalism part of the mainstream media today.

Back in the country after a long hiatus, curly-haired Cebu-bred singing wonder Anna Fegi made the country proud when she was cast as Nala at the Hong Kong Disneyland presentation of “The Lion King,” where she wowed audiences with her wide vocal range. Toti Fuentes, on the other hand, is also making a comeback of sorts after staying in the US where he sought treatment for stomach cancer.

“The Perfect Pair” will also feature former beauty queen Rachel Anne Wolfe, who has already made the rounds of the local show business scene via the movies and television before. Rachel is back in the country and will showcase her musical prowess through her brand-new CD released under Manna Records and distributed locally by Sony BMG.

The three top-notch entertainers will certainly electrify the Merk’s Bar Bistro stage, featuring Anna and Toti’s undeniable musical chemistry, having collaborated on several projects in the past. Their collective genius shall be complemented by Rachel’s indubitable musical artistry, from R&B, jazz, and even dance music.

Their captivating performances thus serve as a perfect highlight to the show as they showcase their diverse musicality and world-class entertainment qualities.

CyberPress kicks off 10th year milestone with appreciation party and fellowship night

Date: 28 April, 2006 (Friday)
Time: 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm (Registration starts at 7:00 pm)
Venue: Ballroom A, Crowne Plaza
Galleria Manila Ortigas cor ADB Aves. Quezon City (behind Robinsons Galleria)
Attire: Formal
RSVP DETAILS:

Contact: Sharon Coloma-Frades, Events@Work
Tel Nos: (632) 897-6391 / 897-7091 loc. 3
Fax: (632) 899-5264
Email: cyberpressph@eventsatwork.com OR register ONLINE

The Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines, more popularly known as CyberPress, will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with a series of activities, starting with an appreciation party and fellowship night on April 28.

CyberPress, the pioneering IT journalists association in the Philippines and in Asia, has invited members of top technology and multinational companies as well as government officials to its upcoming appreciation night.

The highlights of the event include a photo exhibit, the announcement of the Top 10 IT events of the past 10 years, and the awarding of the first-ever CyberPress scholar. The photo exhibit will provide a rare photo chronicle of how CyberPress came to be. Capping the night is an executive fashion show with select IT executives as participants.

CyberPress is holding this momentous event as a way of showing gratitude to members of the IT industry in the Philippines, including private companies and government agencies, both of which play a major role in the development of IT in the country.

As part of the festivities, CyberPress will be organizing not only one but two separate forums this year.

Presentations and discussions in the mid-year forum in July will revolve around convergence in the telecommunications industry, while the year-end forum in October will highlight IT education.

Helping CyberPress celebrate its 10th anniversary are Platinum sponsors HP Philippines, Innove Communications, Microsoft Philippines, Smart Communications, Sony Ericsson, Sun Microsystems Philippines, and TeleTech Philippines; Gold sponsors Acer, Computer Associates, Epson, Kodak, Netopia, Nokia, Nortel, and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.; and Silver sponsors 3Com, Datacraft, Intel, JVC, MGE, NEC, STI, Chikka and Robinsons Department Store.

As a journalists' association, CyberPress aims to establish the IT sector as a mainstream beat and, in the process, help more people get a basic grasp of the relevant issues and developments happening in the IT sector in the Philippines and across the globe.

CyberPress saw its official birth in mid-1996 with then-President Fidel Ramos inducting in Malacañang its Charter members and officers, led by founding president Sam Jacoba, now with Microsoft Philippines.

Currently, the group has more than 30 members from the print, broadcast, and online media.

About CyberPress

CyberPress, also known as the IT Journalists Association of the Philippines, is the pioneering organization of IT writers in the country established in 1996. You may contact the organization's president, Jing Garcia (jing.garcia [at] gmail.com) or Melvin Calimag (melvsgc [at] yahoo.com).

CyberPress: Covering the 21st Century’s Cutting Edge
By Enrique A. Suarez, Charter Member
Posted on January 15, 2006

This year, CyberPress is celebrating its 10th Anniversary.

The Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines or CyberPress saw its official birth in mid-1996 with then- President Fidel Ramos inducting in Malacanang the Charter members and officers led by founding president Sam Jacoba.

But if one were to follow a more liberal interpretation, the CyberPress would be close to two decades old already. For the trade publication that started it all first rolled off the presses late 1985.

This writer prefers the more liberal interpretation. For it would reflect the spirit of the word. And also the true meaning of what a press corps is: a body of journalists regularly covering a beat. In this case, the world of information and communications technology.

In 1994, TODAY became the very first broadsheet to regularly publish an ICT section. In between those nine years, two more trade publications saw birth. Among these was the magazine, PSICOM, sister publication of Philippine IT Update.

With TODAY leading the way, other broadsheets followed suit putting out regular ICT sections and their editors assigning reporters to cover the beat. At present, every broadsheet now has an IT section.

The ICT trade publications have also continued to flourish. The successful yin and yang between the broadsheets and trade publications vis-à-vis the CyberPress is attributable to the nature of the beat covered. It also offers a rich lode of material for a wide variety of readers. Hence, several different kinds of readership niches that can be served by different kinds of newspapers and magazines.

This media yin and yang – which also has some representation from broadcast—likewise reflects a phenomenon brought about by the Information Age. First noted by Alvin Toffler, among the gurus who pioneered the study of social changes brought about by ICT, this is the demassification of media.

Which also explains why the CyberPress is a heterogeneous, and not homogeneous, corps. In turn, this heterogeneity has influenced its journalistic culture. Camaraderie exists among its members. But there is also a keen spirit of competition among them. Within each ICT reporter is the constant striving for a unique angle to each story he or she files.

Yet, such striving is also a throwback to the best in traditions of the pre-martial law Philippines press. It echoes as well the idealism that animated those who wrote for the alternative press immediately after the Ninoy Aquino assassination and before EDSA I.

But while its culture emulates the best in Philippine journalism’s past, the nature of coverage by its members gives a preview of possibilities for Philippine journalism’s future. Not only in the use of tools to gather and write their stories, but also in the reportorial issues they must tackle as they practice their craft.

One such issue is ensuring the credibility of the New Media brought about by the global spread of the Internet and the explosion of new devices that can connect to it. This is still a work in progress and mostly with no end.

Still another issue is shaping the evolution of traditional print and broadcast media as they interface with New Media: ensuring that access to timely information—a strategic resource this 21st century—will always be available to all Filipinos.

If the CyberPress’ immediate past is its future prologue, the members of this emergent press corps have shown they are capable of meeting these challenges. As they cover the cutting edge of the 21st century, they shall also shape it—most especially the journalistic craft which must now reinvent itself for the new needs of a new era.