Wanted: The Real Philippine Internet History July 20, 2008

We need the real Philippine Internet history. Most Pinoy Internet users don’t know it at all. Some, might know the short version. Few know about things that really happened.
These are the juicy bits that would be polished over in an official “textbook” Philippine Internet story.  These are the “off the record” stuff that either get [...]

Open Source Angst May 18, 2008

Open source is supposed to make users happy (except when it doesn’t work). It’s supposed to make their developers happy (as long as it scratches their itch.) But it has been causing me angst.
I don’t get to write any.
Of all the years I’ve been working with free software/open source, I have only been hacking bits [...]

bittersweetness May 10, 2008

I will forever associate the word “Bittersweet” with Marc Almond. That 1988 song is stuck in my head thanks to the NU 107/99.5 RT of that era, mixed with the a killer melody and lyrics that tempt you – “Let’s Go To Paradise Jack.” Ultimately nonsensical but filling for the moment.
Just like that, memories of [...]

Unswitchable May 6, 2008

I read MacRumors on occasion. It’s not just because I want tech gossip. I’m thinking, when shall I get myself a Mac? The old Mac Envy.
It’s still nowhere in sight. Even if technical articles showed to me demonstrating Mac superiority over Windows and even Linux, I have already invested in building a home Linux/Windows PC, [...]

What Page Represents You? May 4, 2008

What Page Represents You? What is your homepage?
In the 90’s, it was a Geocities or Tripod.com page, or an ISP-hosted ~page. With links, pictures, about me, and blinkie-blinkie things.
In the 2000s, this became a blog. With blogrolls, pages, and then widgets.
But for those who are not defined by their blog, what should their page be [...]

VPS Migration Step 1 May 4, 2008

I have been hosting my sites or blogs on Virtual Private Servers (VPS) since 2003 or so. I thought that a Unix guy like me should eat his own dogfood and do sysadmin on his own server. And, I’ve been planning to run my own apps – Rails, Java, etc.
But that didn’t happen. I am [...]

Tech Update April 17, 2008

Unfortunately, I can’t post the best and most interesting tech I’m up to, since it’s work related and I can’t share a single clue as to what I’m up to. Really secret stuff.

Instead, let me tell you about the tech stuff I do in my own time:

Beta testing Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron
Using kvm Kernel Virtualization, [...]

Hacking Tosh March 23, 2008

I gave in. I am now trying to install the OSX86. Hackintosh. SteveOS.

I’m now trying “Kalway” 10.5.1. My best bet is the Acer 4710Z Gemstone, which is an Intel T2080, a Yonah like the original MacBook, with an Intel 943GML chipset. I was able to reach the installer application. The hard drive needs to be [...]

Philippine Interconnectivity Story September 26, 2007

I want to talk about the story of Philippine Internet interconnectivity. The Philippine Internet hasn’t achieved a fully local setup where traffic from one network to another can avoid passing abroad. This was a pressing concern of mine back in my previous career in Internet services.

I first wanted to document this when the Do we [...]

Why no Pinoys in Google or Tech Startups? April 7, 2007

More thinking.

I don’t know of any Philippines-educated Filipino in Google or other tech startups. It’s either Fil-ams born and raised in the US, or in the rarer case, Pinoys who attended university or graduate school abroad.

Pinoys I know or hear about who join the exodus don’t get to these hot companies.

Do we lack the means, [...]