PCS is holding a presscon on Digital Pinay tomorrow, Jan 21,
starting at 3:30 pm, at AIM’s ACCEED Center. You and others
interested are invited to join. Just email (or text) me the names of
the people attending so PCS can prepare the necessary press kits.
Again, thanks for your concern. – Bombing

IBARRA “Bombing” C. GUTIERREZ
Editor-in-Chief & Publisher
Media G8way Corporation
3rd Floor, Eurovilla II Building
118 V. A. Rufino St. (formerly Herrera St.), Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines
Tel. (632) 840-4227; Fax (632)894-2487 Mobile +639178955739
E-mail: icgutierrez@mediag8way.ph

E-Mail from Dominique Cimafranca

I’m in Japan, so I can’t go. I’ll prepare a list of questions later, though. Who can make it?

http://atenista.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=3021&st=0

mac_bolan00 posted on Jan 20 2005, 12:42 PM

just a guess: beauty pageants offend ugly women, or those half into it. examples of the latter are homely computer scientists sniffing at ‘Miss IT’ pageants. the above guess is as much of an insult as it is fact. as a way to soften it, i’m of the opinion that all sane women are beautiful and desirable but never mind me.

well then, i’ll throw a different question at you. supposing this IT pageant was meant to benefit indigent but talented students who wish to major in IT, will you still complain at the way society commoditizes beauty, particularly in women?

Throwing all femininity aside, I laughed boisterously the first time I
received the attachment. I might be a little too phlegmatic for my age
(and sex), as I just found it humourous. A lot of my colleagues were
really appalled.

I wonder if call centers are now considered part of IT (may computers
naman sila eh, hehe).

May talent portion ba? Pano to, fastest woman who can assemble a PC?
Or the usual scrabble/hangman programming test? Pabilisan mag-crimp ng
RJ-45? Hehe.

To quote a friend: “Buti na lang walang height requirement.”

Juskupu.

Chette Soriano • www.chette.com

E-Mail from Chette Soriano

From: Kyo Suayan <kyo@suayan.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 09:52:12 -0800

Subject: Re:

Philweavers

Digital Pinay

To be honest, what’s the fuss all about?! Eh totoo naman na
statistically speaking, mas kaunti ang magaganda sa IT field as
compared to other disciplines! This is even supported by observations
back in college wherein usually nasa ibang colleges and departments
ang mga “chikababes”. Seriously!

Finally somebody has come up with a brilliant idea on
how to “put some life” on this very cold and impersonal
industry which is IT. And what does some pseudo-activists do?
Shoot it down. :-)

-kyo-

E-Mail from Martin Gomez

But seriously, the organizers should have thought more about the
matter. Women are not mere trophies to flaunt at events. Gee, if that
were the case, they could have just gotten some actresses who could be
spokespersons for them, I think. I mean, that’s going to be
advertising but with the duties of the “reigning” Digital Pinay –
Hmmm, that seems to be the case. And that is sad, sad, sad.

I hope that the people from PCS would do damage control ASAP. Or else…

– Clair Ching, http://eclair.bizhat.com

When I read the headline of the article “Search for top Filipino
female IT pros slated” I thought it was good as it would duly
recognize Filipina contributors to the growth of Philippine IT. But
now that I know the details I really find it insulting to women.
Asking for vital statistics and requiring the winner to grace PCS
occasions are simply demeaning.

Holden Hao
President
DabaweGNU, Inc.
Davao City

E-Mail from Holden Hao

“Sexiest Geek Alive” is a geek pageant done right. =) Google for it or
be lazy and just check out the following links.

– http://telephonyonline.com/ar/telecom_geek_love/
– http://www.chloeveltman.com/features/digital_culture/sexiest_geek_alive.html
– http://siliconvalley.internet.com/news/article.php/3531_790381
– http://linux.omnipotent.net/article.php?article_id=12243

Why does it work? ’cause it’s as geeky as heck.

Positive stuff about women in technology:

– http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/witexhibit/wit_hall.html
– http://www.witi.org

From Ibarra Gutierrez, Editor-in-Chief of Media G8way:

Digital Pinay is a project of the Philippine Computer Society. It
is actually a take-off from their traditional Ms PCS contest.
Media G8way, with its Events Department, was simply contracted to
manage the project. This is not to say, however, that we are
washing our hands with regards the project’s concept now that
it’s getting flak from the IT community. In fact, we’ve called
the PCS organizers to an emergency meeting tomorrow precisely to
discuss reactions like yours. Rest assured that we’ll do what we
can to make the project truer to its purported objective. And
we’ll keep you and the IT community posted. Thanks for your
concern.

IBARRA “Bombing” C. GUTIERREZ
Editor-in-Chief & Publisher
Media G8way Corporation
3rd Floor, Eurovilla II Building
118 V. A. Rufino St. (formerly Herrera St.), Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines
Tel. (632) 840-4227

It just gets better and better. You mean it’s only getting flak
from the IT community now? You mean this is an old concept? I’ve
e-mailed Leo Querubin to find out how long _that_ has been
running and how it has managed to survive so far.

In the meantime, take a look at this excerpt from
http://www.pcs-it.org/pcs/committees.htm#msict :

Special Project: Miss ICT

In-charge of preparing the activities and implementing
guidelines/criteria for the Search of Miss ICT (professional and
student levels):

• Revive the Computer Girl
• More than just a beauty contest
• Reflects ideals of PCS
• Promote gender equality in the ICT industry
• Promote ICT as an equal opportunity employer

Director-in-Charge: Ms. Ann Gatmaytan
Chair: Mr. Leo Querubin

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!