Social Innovators: An Interview with Jay Jaboneta of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I know there are a lot of efforts to help out our countrymen especially during times of disaster or conflict, but I never really realized that it can be initiated not only by the big corporations, whom we thought would normally have the money to spend coming from their corporate social responsibility funds, but also by individuals who have the strong inner compassion to band together and raise funds for the welfare of the less fortunate.

Many have taken time off from their daytime jobs to lend a hand in any way they can. Some of the people I know even resigned from work to dedicate their lives to similar efforts. I learned about some of them from the recently concluded social innovators gathering called The Dream Expo MNL that was held at the Asian Development Bank in Ortigas Center last June 11 to 13, 2014, of which 200 selected social innovation groups, including Wazzup Pilipinas, attended to listen to several speakers who have already gained a significant footing towards social innovation movements. Many of them have been recognized already for their achievements and contributions making me so very proud I was there to listen to how they chased and lived their dreams of forming an organization that would eventually make this country better if all the rest of us would follow.

I sent a private message through Facebook to many of them and requested an online interview that I sent over email after they agreed. The first one to reply back with a filled up questionnaire was Jay Jaboneta,  Fire Starter and Chief Storyteller of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation. The story of his valiant advocacy was among the interesting ones that caught my attention during The Dream Expo MNL because it was centered on youth education, specifically on the provision of boats to children who had to swim just to go to school.

Below is my interview with Jay Jaboneta done online, but I am still hoping that one of these days I may be able to join his group in one of their on-site activities so I could cover them personally and get to feel how it is really like to see glimpses of hope seen on the children's eyes.

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio Product Review

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I recently got my hand on this cool portable keyboard that's so thin yet durable enough to perhaps lasts longer than what I've been currently using.

I used to have a foldable keyboard that I bring around everywhere I go. I attach it to my tablet so I can work on my writing more comfortably even while traveling, or during certain times while while for an event to start, break time during conferences or seminars, or even while at a coffee shop drinking my favorite brewed concoction and eating a slice of cake.

Logitech makes an extensive line of keyboard cases for all variants of iPad and one of their newest offerings is the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio. I was pleased with the look, feel, comfort, and protection that it provides.

It was so easy to attach it and configure on my tablet. I got it working after a few seconds and it tested out fine even after several hours of usage. It's more practical to use it because of its durable rubber material that is said to be shock resistant rather than my foldable keyboard whose body is made of softer rubber, which incidentally has some numbers at the numeric keypad area already not working. It may have been caused by the multiple times it has been folded and unfolded but for sure this will no longer be fixable.

NBFI Music Artists" Apolaki": Shining Bright as Warriors of and for the Environment

Wazzup Pilipinas!
NBFI Youth federation for environmental preservation (NBFI YFEP) is an environmental Youth organization committed to nature preservation through knowledge and student empowerment. Our mission is to increase youth awareness on various environmental issues through social networking and be one with other environmental units with similar aspiration, to create and organize a range of projects and advocacies that would address the different ecological challenges and to take the necessary actions that will guarantee a safe and viable earth for future generations.

NBFI MUSIC ARTISTS “APOLAKI” created their original songs and one of these is “Sama Sama” “Pagbago” at “Iyak ng Kabatann” which then hit the social networks locally and internationally.  They guested on several big events like in Robert B. Estrella Memorial National High School in Carmen, Pangasinan, Sierra Madre Day in Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City, De La Salle- Dasma., 4th Philippine Greeneration Summit in SM Mall of Asia, People’s Congress with former Chief Justice Reynato Puno in AIM Convention Center, Makati City, SEARICE Convention in UP Diliman, Batangas State University, UPLB,  Ateneo De Manila, Earthday Jamwith Ms. Lou Bonnevie , Aquatech Philippines, radio Veritas and several radio stations they have visited.

“Apolaki” means God of sun and war. "Sun" because they believe that their group will shine bright because of their impressive talents and devotion, and “war”because they can be warriors of and for the environment.