I asked for the particular description of persons to talk to because another friend in IP communications and technologies business Jonathan Sowah started a social network called PinoyKubo especially for everything Filipina and Filipino that I am truly impressed with. I regularly ask people who are in my Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin networks to collaborate with me on international social or IP communications projects like this. They are awesomely knowledgeable, helpful and we all benefit. I am always ready to help them when they need it, and we are an electic bunch. A favorite original quote of mine (yes, by me): "connect the most unlikely entities and that is where the greatest stories are or will result."
The objectives for interviewing Chock Encabo:
1. Discuss typical American misconceptions about the Philippines in regards to its history and people. r
2. Philippines is one of the few nations that used to be a territory of the USA. What happened?
3. Would Chock compare and contrast the Spanish and American influences on the Philippines?
4. What makes teaching history enjoyable? What ages does Chock teach? What methods does he use and why?
5. Does he use voice and video over Internet in the classroom or even personally? If yes, what types and how?
6. What city in the world does he have the most friends and family besides a city in the Philippines? And if he owned a phone number from that city, how might this be good for him personally and professionally, knowing that it ring on his computer, any smart device, or home or cell phone he chooses?
7. What about the brand new and popular PinoyKubo.com social network?
8. Any ideas on how to use what Chock and I learn from this audio podcast we record together to help in the classroom and elsewhere?
(I asked questions 5 and 6 because I am always curious about people's experience with IP communications and SIP without using all the highly technical language. I believe this is a beneficial peek each time into the minds of potential and current users for my friends in the "industry" of providing these services.)
A link to the audio podcast for everyone to listen to online or download to one's iPod, iPhone, smart phone, mobile device or computer and listen to offline is on iTunes, DIDX and PinoyKubo. I do apologize for the fact that Internet on one side or the other was not enabling quality voice during the complete podcast, but the content and ideas gathered from Chock are immeasurable.
Mr. Encabo believes one common misconception about the Philippines its the naming of its islands in 1542. From the point of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition that landed there in 1521 and for many years, a stereotype is thinking these were only nomadic people, people with no sense of government, education and religion. When actually, even prior to the coming of the Spaniards, the people and land were rich with values placed on family and hard work.
Chock Encabo is an active member of the Rotary Club of Manila Metro and is writing a book on Asian history. The movie screenplay for an independent film he wrote is called PUNTOD (Baby's tomb). It is about a deaf and mute girl whose childhood is filled with poverty and working hard to save the bones of her mother in a cemetery. Its themes are family life, government corruption, and a look at reality in the Philippines.
The teacher and writer shares that the Philippines was helped greatly by the Americans to get its independence from Spain, but that the country gained its most popular religion Catholicism from Spain. On July 4, 1946, was when the Americans recognized Philippines' independence, and it is now considered Philippines/American Friendship Day. Mr. Encabo believes that Americans changed Philippines' view of education in a very positive way, and now they were and are able make a public education even to the poorest. He states, "The Americans taught us freedom and the idea of believing in our capacity."
Books are important, Mr. Encabo believes, and knowing one's history and paying importance to certain values such as respect of family and those who are older are crucial. He teaches at PAREF SOUTHRIDGE SCHOOL FOR BOYS in Muntinlupa City. PAREF's idea of schools was inspired by the teachings of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei.
Mr. Encabo emphasizes that students cannot just trust everything they read on the Internet, and they must learn that they do not necessarily need 24/7 instant gratification to survive. He thinks it is important for young people to prepare for college and careers ... to know how to expertly summarize their research. He uses Windows Movie maker in Windows in the classroom with different types of cameras for students to be actively involved in their learning. He now plans to help students conduct audio podcast interviews with people in other countries to learn more and share more of their learning with others.
Some of the voice and video over Internet services Chock Encabo has used include Yahoo instant messenger, Skype and also Facebook's new video over IP application. He is quite impressed with Facebook's service. He shares that it would be pretty empowering to have virtual phone numbers from Melbourne, Florida and Tacoma, Washington because it would encourage those people in those areas to call him ... by dialing the phone number that belongs to him but is local to them. Our talk about this direct inward dialing possibility to be "local" to one's VIP was the first time he had heard of this.
I have found that many people I speak to around the world, who are not directly in IP communications, do not know or understand the power of SIP-related services. Maybe we need more non-technical people like me chatting about it 24/7? :-D
We end our conversation talking about how much fun PinoyKubo.com is. He says it means to welcome Filipinas and Filipinos all over the world. Chock Encabo just connected with Jonathan Sowah, the founder of PinoyKubo, who is adding video and voice talks soon to the platform. It already has games, gifts, shopping, chat, and other types of collaborative activities.
* A comment by Jose Encabo in my Facebook network, who introduced me to Chock, "Amazing interview! I didn't know about the independent film (I need to talk more to Chock Encabo). By the way, Suzanne, just 2 minor comments: I'm now working for Marvell since Marvell acquired the DS2 powerline technology, hence now working for an american company based in Santa Clara (my comment refers to your TMCnet article). Second comment: we first met at Globalcomm in Chicago, 2006... We started discussing about the Rihana's song "my umbrella", as we were playing it on a screen through our PLC techno. You then came up making a video, started talking about the generosity of offering your umbrella to someone else when it's raining, and then you compared it to bringing the communications everywhere in the world and offering connectivity coverage for every single individual... I can't forget that day!!"
You made my day, Jose. Hope to see many readers and bloggers on TMC bloggers' community at ITEXPO West Sept. 13-15, 2011, mostly because it falls on birthday in a place I've been wanting to spend time in ... Austin.
