Advocacy
Fishackathon 2016 by US Embassy Manila, USAID

Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom joins the US Embassy Manila, US Agency for International Development (USAID), and mobile content marketing firm Tone in staging the first Fishackathon in the Philippines on April 23-24 at Globe Valero Telepark in Makati City in an effort to develop usable technology solutions that will address the worldwide problem of overfishing.
The two-day activity, which will be staged simultaneously in 43 host cities worldwide, expect to bring together developers, designers, as well as representatives from government and non-government organizations who will #codeforfish, find innovative ways to collect and analyze data, and find solutions to the world’s fisheries and oceans issues.
“It will be exciting to see effective and useful apps emerge at the Fishackathon 2016 Manila. We at Globe Labs, are proud to serve as a partner again with the US government in looking for ways for information and communications technology to be used in addressing issues that plague the world,” said Glenn Estrella, VP for Digital Ventures. Globe Labs partnered with the US government in hosting the TechCamp Hackathon two years ago.
Fishackathon 2016 is also in line with Globe Telecom’s sustainability advocacy to create a #WonderfulPH through positive societal impact with the use of modern technology. Globe has ongoing eco-tourism efforts which include communities involved in fisheries and aquatic resources such as the following: PUSOD on protection and enhancement of Taal Lake in Batangas ecosystem; Save Philippine Seas on protection of thresher sharks through engagement and education of community stakeholders in Malapascua, Cebu; Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative on the establishment of an environment hotline center in Boracay, Malay, Aklan; and Casa San Miguel on livelihood opportunities for those living along the coastal barangays of San Antonio, Zambales.
Fishackathon was launched in 2014 in response to overfishing which harms the marine environment and diminishes the already meager income of small scale fishermen. Participating teams need to choose one of the nine available problem statements to work on for the entirety of the hackathon. The official text of the problem statements will not be available until after the event is officially opened to ensure that all teams are on a level playing field when the hackathon begins. A group of marine experts will be on hand to advise all participants about fisheries management and marine biodiversity conservation in the Philippines.
For Fishackathon Manila, a grand prize valuing approximately Php 35,000 as well as smaller runner-up and second runner-up prizes, will be awarded. Each team will be asked to do a five- minute presentation of their solution, followed by two minutes of Q&A by the panel of judges and two minutes of Q&A by the audience.
The presentations will be judged based on the quality of idea or innovation, impact, and interface. The winning team will upload their presentation to be entered into the global competition. The global winning team will be announced on World Oceans Day on June 8, 2016 and will receive a $10,000 cash prize. In addition, one team’s creation will be further independently developed through a US government contractor.
Follow @usembassymanila, @USAID_Manila @withtone @Globelabs @fishackathon @GPatState on Twitter for updates on Fishackathon Manila 2016. For further information on the Fishackathon partnership and this weekend’s events, please visit fishackathon.co. #codeforfish.
Advocacy
Being A Technology Blogger in Cebu | Best Cebu Blog Awards 2019

Technology blogs are definitely not new, before, most of the latest technology updates came from blogs (websites) even before Facebook (Social Media Networks) come into the picture. But still many rely on technology blogs, why? Because it is comprehensive and more detailed rather than a single post in the feed. One my 1st few articles in my blog is technology related which started out as a hobby then later on became a passion of mine where I got to meet different people with common interest (Blogging and Technology) .

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I have been blogging for more than 10 years (appsgadget.com is 9 Years 10 Month 5 Days old as of this writing ) 😀 I have seen how the technology evolves and revolves around us and how it enabled us to connect and communicate with each other as well a create a community of bloggers with common interest which inspires me to continue on blogging technology despite the odds.
Being a Technology Blogger in Cebu and being nominated again for the BCBA 2019 is a huge honor for me especially this is my 3rd nomination, knowing that there are only few technology bloggers here in Cebu which is quite a challenge for us Cebu based tech bloggers since many of the popular and established technology bloggers are Manila Based and most of the technology product launches and events are held there. Not to mention that I have a day time job and a family which makes it more worth it.
Despite of that, there are still technology companies that reached to us bloggers here in Cebu which I sincerely appreciate personally, to name a few, RealMe, ASUS, Moto, Globe Telecom, PayMaya, GCash, MSI–ECS and many more (sorry if I forgot to mention you here ) and also to PR companies/partners that directly contacted me for events and updates).
What makes me to continue to blog about the technology is not all about the material things you received like Gadgets, gifts and stuffs for all you know for technology, there will always be a new gadget and it will always be replaced by another so just chill if you don’t have the latest tech product .The important thing is It is how I consistently share technology news and reviews that affect the lives of people or even improve them by helping them make the right choices when they purchase or use a certain technology product. For me, saving that person a certain (monetary) amount and time from viewing my blog is already a great satisfaction
Congratulations to BCBA team for making this happen, more power!
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Advocacy
Retirement Apps for Millennials to Hit Financial Goals

It’s important to start thinking about your retirement in advance when you still have enough time to plan and define your lifetime goals and what you should do to achieve those goals.
According to a research by the Insured Retirement Institute, over 76% of millennials aren’t confident they have saved enough for retirement.
More than that, the Retirement Confidence Survey made in 2016 showed that 26% of respondents have saved less than $1,000 for retirement.
Of course, retirement planning includes more than just the financial part, but other factors depend on the income that will be available for you during retirement. The more research you do now, the more prepared you will be to make wise decisions.
In this article, we will talk about the top retirement apps for baby boomers to hit their financial goals and help with their retirement planning.
AARP Retirement Calculator
This is a free online app which was developed for people who have a steady income and want to plan for retirement. While emergency loans are often used as urgent help with unforeseen expenses, it is obvious that planning your future is essential in order to minimize those expenses.
This is one of the best retirement apps that can be used by married couples, domestic partners, or single people. You need to fill in some personal details, such as your age, marital status, income, retirement savings account, lifestyle, and Social Security. Then, the app will show what you can improve to be on track for retirement.
The AARP Retirement Calculator gives free basic information on how much you need to save in order to retire now and when you want. For instance, if the app demonstrates you don’t have enough money to fund your retirement, it will offer different options. You may be suggested to alter your lifestyle, increase your savings, work full-time or work longer at your present job.
Acorns
This retirement planning app was founded in 2014 by Walter Cruttenden who was the CEO of investment banking company Roth Capital.
The minimum deposit is free of charge and you only need to pay $5 in order to start investing in your future. If you have less than $5,000 on your retirement savings account, you will have to pay $1 monthly fee.
Acorns is a useful app which is set to automatically withdraw the money from your checking account and add it to your retirement savings account. In addition, the user may take advantage of micro deposit option, which is called a round-up. It means that if you purchase a coke for $1,50, the app will withdraw the remaining 50 cents in charge from $2 from your checking account and invest it in your retirement Acorns account.
RetirePlan
This is another helpful app for iPhones and iPads. If you are wondering when and how you will be able to retire, this online calculator will give you the answers.
The user needs to input certain details such as age, current retirement savings, life expectancy, Social Security, medium yearly savings, and yearly retirement income they want to have. If your values change, it won’t be a problem as the app shows the results in slides. Once you change any of the above-mentioned values, you will be shown various outcomes.
The users are free to add a pension, remove or add Social Security, include a spouse and even add big upcoming expenses. The outcome will be shown on a spreadsheet which can be sent on your email.
Do your homework and find the most suitable retirement planning app for your financial goals. Take advantage of modern technology and live out your golden years in comfort.
Advocacy
Employers Should Perform a Social Media Screening

Social media reveals a great deal about people. Employers should treat a potential new hire’s social media site as if it were an online magazine. Read all the words and review all the images in great detail. Doing so may eliminate a host of unwanted surprises. The information is right there. Why not access it?
When seeking to hire a new employee, social networks also act as supplemental resumes. Information about the person’s work history and educational background might be present in a highly detailed manner. Human resource personnel indeed gain insights into the person’s temperament from gleaning the page. Who does this person interact with, and how are the interactions carried out? The answer is right there for all to see. A social media check delivers the answer.
What about the groups and pages the jobseeker maintains affiliations? Do they say anything about the person? Don’t think of this as a search for dirt on someone. Sometimes, reviewing a social media page tells a lot of good things about an individual. Interactions on hobby-related group sites may show the person likes to answer questions and help fellow hobbyists out.
Of course, managers can also avoid hiring the proverbial lemon by reviewing social media commentary. Consider this a vital part of the screening process. Learning as much as possible about someone before making a hiring decision reflects prudent sense. A troubling employee can cause all manner of chaos in the office. Bringing down morale among the other employees might be the least concerning issue. A terrible employee can drag a company into severe legal jeopardy.
The sheer volume of costs adding up during a civil suit could prove disastrous to a company’s bottom line. Even if a settlement or a significant judgment doesn’t fall like a hammer, legal fees do mount up. Paying the fees hampers the financial strength of even a healthy business. Imagine what such fees could do to a business barely turning a profit each year.
Granted, not every company has the means nor the experience to handle online background screening. FAMA provides social media screening and other similar services. A service that employs experienced screening professional takes burdens off the shoulders of a hiring business. And those burdens can linger.
Past actions usually beget future actions. An employee who causes problems on social media before hiring probably won’t curtail his/her behavior after coming on board. The social media foibles could drag an employer into a mess. Managers already deal with many things on their plate. Dealing with a “loose cannon” employee who causes social media drama adds more hassles. Hassles create costs.
Costs don’t always refer to financial losses. Opportunity costs factor into the mix. When managers and other personnel find themselves dragged away to deal with an employee’s catastrophic behavior, they aren’t attending to their primary job duties. The company then suffers.
Cut down on the chances of dealing with so many disasters. Perform social media screening steps to unearth any surprises. Better yet, outsource the work to experienced professionals possessing the necessary skills.
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