Articles Published in Newspapers and a Magazine

Articles Written (Part 1)

These are the articles I wrote in the office newsletter when I still worked for the university, 2004-2005. I am still re-encoding the older articles.

March 30, 2005

Search by Google in DLSU Web Site

The newest function of the DLSU-Manila Web site is the search by Google feature (http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/help/search/google.asp) found in the Help page. This page gives you two (2) options to search the dlsu.edu.ph domain exclusively. If you tick the second option, you will see a note which will indicate that the dlsu.edu.ph domain was searched exclusively. At the bottom of the same page, the options “Search within results” and the “Search Tips” are clickable.

Atomz Search Upgrade
One would think 6,000 Web pages is already a respectable number for a university Web site. Would you believe that the DLSU domain has exceeded this limit?
As of October 2004, our Atomz search engine crawls 8,000 pages. The Atomz search function indexes Web sites by crawling through the pages no matter how information is organized. It can search through ASP, PHP, or other dynamic pages. It can create reports useful in learning visitors’ Web navigation behaviour. Atomz account holders can even control search results based on relevance settings.
These information help the DOCU Team customize search results. The best example is the redirection to the My.LaSalle Log-in Page when one searches for MLS.

CSB Classes
The DOCU Team takes continuous improvement seriously and took courses at the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) School of Design and Arts – Multimedia Arts program, individually. The thought was born during the Planning Workshop sessions held at the onset of the current school year. Most of us expressed sentiments that we were interested in taking sit-in classes. As a result, out trainings now include:

Reynaldo R. Mendoza, Jr. : Photography Fundamentals
Lemuel B. Cabia : 3D Computer-aided Solid Modelling
Francis Mark D. Santos : 3D Computer-aided Solid Modelling
Albert D. Gavino : Photography Fundamentals
Precious L. Taliwaga : Design Elements and Principles

The Team is currently looking for more programs that will further sharpen our skills and enhance our techniques in Web development.

November 10, 2004

My.LaSalle Search Improved
For ages, students and faculty has been searching for the My.LaSalle link in the home page. This has been the top search keyword for a very long time. And we tried everything,, text links, logos and banners, but still, students keep using the search box to find My.LaSalle.
So we had this idea... “Can we modify the search facility so searchers using keywords such as ‘MLS,’ ‘mylasalle,’ or ‘MyLasalle’ be AUTOMATICALLY FORWARDED to the MLS Web site instead of ATOMZ doing the serach?”
Today, this is exactly what happens when one enters “mylasalle” in the Search box of the Manila Web site. Javascript parses the searched word and “redirects” the user to the My.LaSalle login page. To parse means to analyze an input or data into more easily processed components.
Instead of calling the Atomz facility to “search through” all of the pages within the www.dlsu.edu.ph to produce search results, which contains the searched word or phrase, a dialog box with the text “You will be redirected to the ‘My.LaSalle web site’” is displayed.
Today, the search result for keywords leading to mylasalle is ZERO! This happens because the keywords never get to ATOMZ (javascript parses it) and thus has zero search entries. This idea is so successful we would like to duplicate the concept in the intranet.

DLSU Wise
The Documentation Office has recently launched the newly redesigned Wireless Information Services (Wise) Web site http://wise.dlsu.edu.ph.
In addition to the short messaging system (SMS) service, this edition has information about the latest addition to DLSU’s wireless services, the DLSU Newsletter Mobile Edition viewable in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and the wireless fidelity (WiFi) technology utilization within campus.
Viewing the Aswtats search statistics report, you would be surprised to find out that these newest technologies are the top searches since last month.

Philippine Web Awards
Around this time last year, the Web Team was feverishly campaigning for SMS and e-mail votes as the DLSU-Manila Web site was included as finalist in the prestigious Philippine Web Awards (PWA).
As this is an annual event, why the lull this year? The main reason the DLSU-Manila Web site was not submitted in this year’s PWA is because it has not yet been redesigned and PWA have started to ask for a (hefty) joining fee of $45.
However, despite the fact that the web site is not included in the roster of participants, the event organizer Media G8way Corp. (MGC), still sought our opinion through interviewing Reynaldo R. Mendoza, ITC-Docu’s Acting Department Head.
Here is the full text as it appeared in the Philippine Web Awards Web site:
“(I believe the PWA) provides service to the digital Pinoy by honouring (both the men and the women who) strive to present their best works and inspire more Filipinos to be world class,” noted Reynaldo R. Mendoza, Jr., senior Web designer/acting department head, documentation office of De La Salle University-Manila. DLSU won last year’s People’s Choice award for Schools.
Saying that the PWA changes reflect the event’s improvement through time, he specified three basic types of Web sites: information, entertainment, and e-commerce. Expanding these categories is already a challenge, he pointed out.
Mendoza believe the PWA is making changes in the category listing to “accommodate what (the organizers) may have left out.”

July 25, 2004

Search Engine Optimization
Meta tags are words of phrases that help search engines classify and rank a Web page. They instruct Web browsers to perform specific tasks and identify keywords and site definitions, among others. The DLSU-Manila Web site has almost 3,000 pages. Though information is organized well, some people find it easier to use its Search function extensively. For this reason, the DOCU Office reviewed the major folders and selected the appropriate keywords. The DOCU Office also took into account statistics reported by Atomz and Awstats.
To date, “mylasalle” which used to be the most frequently searched word, is the first item that will be included in the report when it is searched. This is just one keyword among many. The process of updating the meta tags is being done weekly.

CHED-ZRC Web Site
As DLSU-M aims to be the top research university in the Asia-Pacific region, ITC is proud to be part of the move to work towards this vision. Recently, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chose DLSU-M as one of its Zonal Research Centers (ZRC) (http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/research/centers/ched_zrc.default.asp). As a result, the CHED-ZRC Web site can now be found in the DLSU-M Web site. The Web site contains the National Higher Education Research Agenda, priority research areas, overview of the different grants it offers, downloadable portable document format (PDF) forms and the CHED research framework.

President’s Report
The on-line edition of the DLS System’s President Report for the School Year 2002-2003 is now accessible. In addition to he regular features, it now includes information about the newest campus in the System, the DLS-Araneta University. It remained true to the printed edition. Insert photos in the magazine were presented as still photos. The pages used the colors white and grayish brown, the same colors used by the printed edition.

Transfer of CCS and ITC to DLSU-Manila Web Site
With the transfer of the College of Computer Studies (CCS) to the DLSU-Manila from the Professional Schools, Inc. (PSI), so has its Web site. The organization of the files was retained so as not to spoil the navigation behaviour of the site surfers. Next up for transfer is the ITC Web site, as we also transferred to the main campus.

March 12, 2004

MLS Portal Update
The My.LaSalle (MLS) portal continues to take better shape. The most recent additions to the portal are the comprehensive accessories which now includes the DLSU Library Web On-line Public Access Catalog (OPAC), www.google.com.ph, www.yehey.com.ph, www.dictionary.com, www.inq7.net, www.cnn.com links, links to government electronic services, Quality Articles posted under lifelong learning, calculator and periodic table of the elements, at default.

Helpdesk Web Site
The launch of the reorganized and redesigned Help Desk web site is something to look forward to. Together with other recently-launched web sites, the Help Desk uses CSS layouts. CSS web design uses no tables for design and thus, makes load time faster and has the ability to change designs on the fly just by changing the CSS of the web site. These technologies make the design and enhancement of the web site easier. As a result, there are three (3) designs and color schemes to choose form. The major links are now Services, Tips and Tools, Downloads, Facilities, FAQs, DLSU Sites and About.

PSI Web Site
In line with the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) re-assessment of the College of Computer Studies (CCS), the redesigned ITC-PSI web site has been launched last November. The web developers utilized WYSIWYG templates that allow easier content development and maintenance.

Planning Sessions
The DOCU Office recently concluded the planning workshop for the school year 2004-2005. After three (3) sessions, new threats and opportunities posed by conditions outside of ITC and DLSU have been identified in the TOWS analysis. A more detailed and comprehensive proactive action plan has been finalized. Upon the implementation of the action plan, delivery of information over the Internet is foreseen to be more accurate, up-to-date and accessible.

Faculty Web Site
Full professors who are employed by the University full-time can now avail of Web development services. At the very least, full professors have a doctoral degree to their credit except in fields where doctoral programs are not available locally. The guidelines have already been set by the DOCU Office as approved by ITC Director Samuel Mallare. The Web page for the guidelines is currently being developed. To make the academic community aware of this service, an article will be published in the DLSU Newsletter.

CeMTRE Web Site
Supporting DLSU’s mission to be the leading research university in the Southeast Asian region, La Salle tied up with the Philippine government’s Department of Energy (DOE) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The web site for Center for Micro-Hydro Technology for Rural Electrification, CeMTRE, was established to upgrade the existing hydraulic laboratory test facilities for micr-hydro technologies at the College of Engineering.

Published Articles
To inform the users of the newest services offered by the Information Technology Center (ITC), the DOCU Office submitted articles which have been published in the printed edition of the DLSU Newsletter. These articles informed the public of the importance of the web in information dissemination, the accessibility of the software PDF995 and Statistica. On-line information about these topics can be found in the different web sites where they belong.

God's Miracle: Healing Me from Dopa-responsive Dystonia

I was born epileptic but I was declared cured when I was around 13 years old.

As you know, towards the end of 2005, I had dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) which affected the way I walked. This condition is midway between dystonia and Parkinson's disease. Just to refresh your memory, it is a condition where the basal ganglia (the part of the brain which regulates body movements) was losing control of my forward walk (dystonia), and the level of dopamine (the substance which lubricates the brain and regulates body movements as well) in my brain was depleting/being blocked (Parkinson's disease) at the same time. In my case, my left foot turned everytime i walked.

I consulted with 3 neurologists the last one of which was the only one who diagnosed my condition correctly. They found through MRI that I have pineal region cyst. The pineal region is between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. They told me it could have been there in the last 15 years. They also told me that it will not be removed since it seemed to have no effect at all on me and that brain surgery is the last option always.

The third doctor is a US-based Filipino neurologist who I found through google search. I e-mailed him and he replied. I consulted with him when he came to Manila. I rarely followed any of the 3 doctors' instructions in taking my medicine. This is because one doctor instructed me to slowly increase my medicine intake until the time I was satisfied with the way I walked. So when they told me to take 1 and 1/2 tablets a day, I just took 1 tablet a day.

I also attended 2 masses officiated by Fr. Fernando Suarez (www.fatherfernando.com), a miraculous Canada-based Filipino priest who goes around the world to officiate healing masses.

In between the time I was well and got sick, I joined the La Salle-based Singles for Christ.

There was a time when my condition got worse. The turning of my foot became more pronounced even though I took my medicine regularly as instructed by my doctor. I asked him once my condition was getting worse, was it leaning more toward Parkinson's or dystonia? He told me that my sickness was definitely dystonia and should it get worse, I may manifest signs of Parkinsonism. I remember, there were times I observed the way people walked on the streets each time I was commuting just to remind myself how to walk normally.

This condition forced me to push myself harder to do more things all at once. I continued with my master's classes because I didn't want to suffer from one of the possible side effects of DRD which is alzheimer's disease. This year, I also secured a gym membership to tone my muscles.

In February this year, my Lola gave me a box of medicines good for 30 days. I took it with my medicine and noticed that my walk was consistently good and effortless. When I finished the box, I thought of buying the medicines but decided to wait for the time my walk would again get worse then buy the medicines. It continued to be consistently good and effortless I actually thought of reducing my medicine but just continued taking the medicine at the dosage recommended by my doctor.

I had my checkup with my US-based doctor when he came to Manila last month. He again told me to walk back and forth from the door many times. When I was fed up with what I was doing because I felt it lasted forever, I told him "Doc, wag ka na maghanap ng wala." Which he answered with "Let me be the judge of that." Then he told me to sit down and happily told me that this was the only time he saw me walked well for long. He also told me to reduce my medicine intake.

Then I joined the Akyat Brother Andrew. I thought, I would stop at any point during the competition once I have a hard time running. I finished 523 steps, 21 storeys effortlessly in 9 mins and 43 secs.

Then I attended the Metro Manila Singles for Christ (SFC) Conference in Bataan. I packed my things in a hurry because I went home late the night before and thought I forgot to take my medicine. I have decided to brave the weekend without taking the medicine because I know our schedule was unbelievably jampacked.

The first night, my foot acted up. It hasn't occured for quite some time but that night, hindi na naman mapakali yung paa ko. It was typical when I skipped taking my medicine. The following morning, I expected my foot to turn in all directions while I walked kasi syempre I hardly slept the night before. Miraculously, I was able to walk quietly the whole day which lasted late into the night. Take note, it was a very busy day of hearing talks in between running all around.

Then, the following day, I found my medicine. I stared at it for a while then decided to skip it and see until when I would function well without it. It was a busy 3-day conference and I was able to survive it without my medicine and supplements. I couldn't stop crying the moment I realized what happened.

I have decided to stop taking the medicine altogether. I claim that the good Lord has healed me completely.

I shared it in the SFC chapter assembly and a brother told me that I seem to have forgotten that on the 2nd night of the conference, a sister stood up on the stage and declared that a sister was healed of brain tumor that night. He told me that I was the sister that was healed of brain tumor, that my pineal region cyst is gone.

It has been more than 3 weeks since I last took my medicine. Until now, my walk is still consistently good and effortless. The good Lord is truly a loving father God who gives what is best to us His children.

May you be inspired by this story.

God bless us all.