Looks like PCS is pushing through with Digital Pinay 2005. Their spin?
They’re searching for future female chief executive officers, so 60%
personality (in terms of appearance, popularity and poise) makes
perfect sense.

Indeed it does. After all, they’re looking for future managers, and
managers really do need soft skills. So that’s their market. They’re
not trying to define a good IT professional in terms of technical
wizardry. This is MIS.

They’re not saying you have to be pretty to be a good geek. They’re
saying you have to be pretty—este, personable—in order to be a good
manager. Which is all too true and we’re used to that, I guess.

I wonder if they’ll ask the contestants in the “Search for the Most
Outstanding CIO” to model sportswear. I still think that if you’re
looking for future leaders, you should ask them to make speeches
instead of strut around in several different kinds of clothes. You
should ask them to make a difference in their community.

I also don’t think we lose our femininity by focusing on ideas and
accomplishments. In fact, we express it by not highlighting it, not
making it the center of attention. I want more attention paid to the
fact that we get results through taking risks and working hard than to
the accident of our gender.

Anyway. It’s their org. It’s their money and it’s their name. At least
they’ve clarified their position. I have a feeling there’s nothing
more I can do about that. We’re talking about completely different things.

You know what my problem is? I keep thinking that the C in PCS means
they’re even vaguely related to the stuff we do. But right, right,
they’re business-related, and that’s a completely different world. I
just have to remember that. I really should remember that PCS is a
professional organization, and their definition of IT is very
different from our definition of IT.

You know what? I think I’ll stay out of the corporate world. I love
teaching. I love showing people that they can do anything they want to
do in IT. I love hacking on open source. I don’t want to have to dress
up in a suit to work on something cool with other people.

I guess it’s time to resume life. I have things to hack on.

Thanks to everyone who listened.

PCS to push through with Digital Pinay 2005 – INQ7.net

Leo Querubin of PCS sent me another set of application forms, saying

These were the original apps forms.

– http://sacha.free.net.ph/notebook/personal/digitalpinay-coed.doc
– http://sacha.free.net.ph/notebook/personal/digitalpinay-pro.doc

For comparison, the form I received in a forward is here:

– http://sacha.free.net.ph/notebook/personal/digitalpinay.doc

I like how the rules are no longer included so that they have more
time to make up their mind. I like how the form does not mention the
controversial prize of P 25,000 (look! the average monthly salary
of an IT professional!) or the form of the contest.

It is entirely possible that there really was just a simple misunderstanding.

It is entirely impossible for everyone to believe that.

It is also probably impossible for them to reach everyone the first
forwarded form(s) reached. They have opened up a can of worms, and
they cannot neatly stuff all the worms back in.

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