Toinks - today’s blooper

It took me 8 hours to finally give up and ask assistance from my brother for a problem that I have been struggling to figure out. This story of one of the reasons why using framework isn’t always good

I was recreating a facebook app made from cakephp to a bare php coded version. It is a very simple form that saves the data and then proceeds to step 2 and 3. Nothing complex. When it was time to test it in facebook, the form isn’t submitting! The $_POST variable is always blank. Ofcourse, the first intuition is to check why facebook isn’t saving the data to the global variable. I tried to rewrite the app and use both FBML and IFrame! At the end of my day last Friday, I just gave up and took a nap. Today, I revisited again and tried a new approach - ajax call. When I had to test it locally, the $_POST was still empty no matter what I do. I uploaded it to the dev server and still got the same results. I couldn’t find anything unusual in my code - it is just a simple form. Right at that moment I decided that I already have to bug someone to review my code (I try not to as much as I can). Just a few minutes after, I was told that my form action url must end atleast with a slash (/). Just that, a slash! OMG! (then make batok sa sarili - lol) Since I already got used to cakephp and the HTML and FORM helpers, this hasn’t become a problem.

Moral of the story? Ask earlier, I guess? Hehe. The other one is, not to rely too much on a framework! (but probably I still will)

SEO in Plain English

Recently, I joined the 30day Challenge which for me taught me the basics of SEO. The following video summarizes what I learned in the 30day challenge.

The 30day challenge really touched those areas. If you want to dig deeper, I recommend you register for the challenge (I think it is still open).

How to make technical presentations more interesting to non-technical audiences

During the PHP roadshows, I asked this a couple of times to myself. The audience are considered non-technicals so I have probably been too technical for their taste. I think it’s really a tough job and I admire great presenters because they make it look really easy. I googled this just earlier and I found a great resource. I a few steps and I think I found a good starting point for my next presentation. Here are the links:

1. Part 1: five ways to beat stage fright.
2. Part 2: pitfalls in preparation.
3. Part 3: magic questions.
4. Part 4: telling the story in their language.
5. Part 5: a fail-safe structure for your ideas.
6. Part 6: building a strong body and summary.
7. Part 7: essentials of delivery.
8. Part 8: fine points of delivery.

Business Models and the Social Media Revolution

I am not into music but this presentation is very clever in presenting how businesses should think at their business models. It’s not too hard to grasp. I thought to bookmark it but it will be like throwing a great idea in my closet so I’d like to share it here.

Another that catched my eye today is about social media and how it changed history. I am not into the social media thing but seeing most of my friends engaged in them is something.

Study in UK for FREE!

How cool is that? Actually that is possible. There are a lot of scholarship programs available for post grad students. One of them is the Chevening Scholarship program that allows you to select a 1-year master’s degree.

The minimum qualifications are based on their website:

• an applicant is a Filipino, Marshallese, Micronesian, or Palauan national
• has attained a local/international degree
• has two years work experience in your chosen career
• applicant should also be committed to returning to the applicant’s home country after the period of study

I guess the more experience you have, the more qualified you are. The best thing with Chevening is that the scholarship covers all the costs of the period of study. This includes academic fees, monthly stipend and airfares to and from the UK. It ain’t cool right? It’s SUPER cool.

Check out more information here. Take note though that applications must be submitted before 15 October 2009.

Tax for Freelancers in Philippines

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uhm., there is really nothing to say except that Freelancers in Philippines are exempted! Heard that correctly — we really don’t need to pay anything. This is according to a personnel in the BIR office in San Fernando City, Pampanga(I visited their office just this August 2009). That person pointed out that if we are not an employee of a legitimate company nor do we have business permit approved by DTI then we don’t have to pay anything. So I guess I should not be guilty of not paying at all. Works for me!

Some people asks me why the hell do I want to pay my tax?? I guess for dumb reason that I want to contribute to the government so some government officials can buy new clothes, houses and cars for their own profit AND to get a proof that I am a good paying citizen. I know, crazy reason but atleast it was already confirmed that I am not oblige of anything and nor any freelancers out there. Ain’t that cool??

PHP Roadshow visits St. Paul QC

Another successful PHP Roadshow was held last August 1 in St. Paul QC. The usual gang are present which makes the roadshow more enjoyable. I discussed my usual stuff, my undying love for cakephp! (wahaha drama). This one I guess was the happiest leg so far (I have only attended 3 legs) because the students were so participative and I had so much fun with the jokes and tease to Mr. Landline and ofcourse the FREE Tarot Reading from Sir Jeff and his GF. I hope next time I can join again. For the meantime, here are some pictures I got from Ridvan.

Topics from the Gang:
Introduction to the PHP Roadshow and PHP User Group Philippines (Jeffrey R. Seracarpio)
Introduction to PHP (Ridvan Baluyos)
Introduction to MySQL (Chean Domingo)
Introduction to CakePHP (Rachel Jaro - ME)
CMS / Joomla (Eric Bangug)
Careers in IT (Jonathan Yap)

PHP Roadshow is an outreach to college students with the goal of reaching the same level of programming competency of our counterparts (Filipino and non-Filipino) outside of the country (including standardizations and value of work).

This is an initiated project of PHP User Group Philippines, Inc. (PHPUGPH), in support of the organization’s mission of advocating and disseminating the use of PHP (Hypertext Pre-processor) as well as Open Source technologies in schools and companies in the Philippines.

I’m excited!

Just this week I posted in my YM status “I’m excited” and a lot of people asked me what was I am excited of. No one actually got the right answer. I was excited because finally my design for my latest web design project is done! (OA no? haha)

It’s quite an achievement for me because I finally was able to design something on my own. I implemented the things I learned in reading design blogs such as spacing and typography. I took me a lot of rearranging and mimicking ideas from other websites (I admit - I’m a second rate trying hard copycat! hehe.. not too ashamed, it’s just the way I start brainstorming :D). I also asked a friend to do some of the images and logo and I also spent a lot of time in istockphoto. It took me 5 iterations to finally come up with something I am happy.

After seeing the converted design to HTML, it felt awesomeness to the max! I’m pretty much happy about it(I bet you can tell). I guess when I turn to my 30’s I’ll shift to design!

I guess the most important thing that made me happy about this project is because I had a goal beforehand. I knew who it was for, what basic elements and blocks that should be included and I knew why the project exist. I had several attempts to come up with any design in the past but I always failed. I think even you’re equipped with a lot of know-how but there is no a real value or goal in a design project or any project, it will always fail. Failure in the sense of your not able to satisfy something. Is it just me or am I not alone? Do you always have that great idea pop up out of nowhere? I’m interested to hear.

Understand the language (of business)

A business partner came to me yesterday excited to share his solutions in our current problem. It’s a rare scenario because he talked about leveraging! Before, I can hardly open up the idea of using others money or effort so we could grow the business. Not that he is closed to the idea but I could not explain it the way it was explained in the book. I also lack the credibility and the sufficient knowledge to explain it. When I joined the ca2020 community and attended the wealth course, I found it to be a great resource and I dragged him along afterwards. I’m bearing the fruit of that course little by little now.

Education on business and investments should really be part of the system of aspiring entrepreneurs. And I mean not only yourself but also your partners. You can generate more ideas and decide wisely if you and your partners speak the same language.

House Escapo

Working at home can sometimes get boring and it makes me crazy. I have been thinking of going out of the house but my problem is the place to stay and the cost. I have been looking for a place with free wifi in our area but I haven’t found one except for Starbucks but they charge PHP100.00/hour. That’s too much for me considering that I have to buy atleast anything from them. That’s why I really hate reasoning myself when I want to do something because eventually I will end up not doing it. But I was a little crazy today and ignored my other self and thankfully I did!

I did not find any place with free wifi but I found at least a quite place to stay at Vienna Cafe in SM City San Fernando. I did not have an internet for 4 hours but I was still able to work - thanks to the coffee! I love the coffee though it’s expensive(super!). I will most likely do this again and seek for another place to stay. How about you - what do you do when bored?