Ubuntu-PH Goes to Party
May 12th, 2008Last May 2, 2008, Ubuntu users from all over Metro Manila gathered for what was to be the Ubunu-Ph Hardy Heron Release Party. Ok, so it wasn’t really a release party in the strictest sense of the term. For one, there were no Hardy CD’s going around (except for a burned Kubuntu DVD). And there was no beer! (But lots of caffeine to go around). Nevertheless, it was still lots of fun and an event worth remembering, and most of all, repeating.
We really didn’t have a concrete plan of where to go and what to do. And most of us will only be meeting each other in real life for the very first time. So it was decided earlier on to meet at McDonald’s first (Filipino time, anyone?). There was free wifi at McDo, but only one of us had the pleasure of being able to connect, allowing us to monitor the IRC channel and forums for anyone who needs to catch up. Once we’ve waited long enough, we “formally” opened the release part. And then came the most important part of the event: Dinner!
But of course we had to take a picture first 
We decided to have a taste of some Filipino cuisine, so we headed over to Max’s Restaurant over at SM Megamall. Besides, it was more “affordable” than the nearest alternatives. You know how us geeks love to save up (for our next toy, of course).
What the pictures will not show is our mystery Php 400.00. When the time came to pay the bill and every one had chipped in, we had an excess of Php 400 which no one claimed to own. To this very day, we still don’t know where it came from, nor has anyone reported it missing. We just decided to put it into our community fund which we later put to very good use (as you’ll see later).
With our digestive system full and hard at work, our next task was to look for a place where we could lounge around and socialize. Of course, WiFi was a necessity… and enough room to pack 10 people with their laptops. After searching near and far (or actually, just far), we ended up at a quiet place in Ortigas Garden called The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Fortunately, there was room for us inside the air conditioned area.
Once we settled down (and some coffee have been ordered), we proceeded to bring out our laptops and try to enjoy the free internet. And that’s when the fun started. Ironically for an Ubuntu release party, none of us could actually get online. Fedora could connect and so could Windows (yes, that would be me using Windows in one of the pics). Eventually, we just gave up trying to figure it out and just enjoyed the coffee (why was my iced latte still warm after an hour?) and the biscotti (which we paid for using our “community fund”).
Anyway, we mostly spent the night talking about many different things, laughing at/about Linux or Ubuntu not being able to connect to the Internet, and other little things. Soon, those who were unfortunate enough to have either work or appointments for the next day started taking their leave. But some of us chose to stay behind, either until someone gave up or until we were kicked out of the shop for closing (which was at 02:00). It was survival of the fittest! It was only when we had reached that state of sublime consciousness called “sleeplessness” that we started talking about more serious FOSS-related topics, such as problems in free software advocacy and acceptance in the Philippines, other local Linux distributions and communities, local FOSS and Linux events or conferences, as well as about organizing the next Ubuntu-PH gatherings. (Mental note: we have to follow that one up).
All in all, the event was a relative success. Even without beer, pizza, or Ubuntu-compatible WiFi (anyone knows of a place that serves all three under one roof?), I am sure that being able to meet fellow Ubuntu users and giving faces and voices to the nicks that we see in IRC channels and forums makes the experience truly worth it.
Thanks to everyone who joined in on the party and we hope more will be able to make it next time. We are all looking forward to the next gathering that will bring free software advocates together, be it an Ubuntu release or any other event. After all, communicating with each other, making friends, and building up communities is one of the things that make FOSS really great and really human.
View all pics on Jucato’s Gallery or Nap’s Flickr (until we can decide where best to put up Ubuntu-PH pics).
We still don’t know where the Php 400.00 came from…
Special thanks to Jeff (punong_bisyonaryo), Marlon (strong007), and Nhatz (nhatz69) providing the pictures.
[KDE Users: Have no fear! KDE was adequately represented by Nap Ramirez and myself, showing off KWin 4's fancy and very useful Desktop Grid effect, even if I had to use Windows to be able to go online. :P]
Just some small updates, while I'm trying to get off my ass and migrate the site completely to Textpattern.
May 12th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Waaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aybol aybol aybol!
Musta na father. hehehe
May 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Good job! Even with a handful of people, its nevertheless great to meet up with Pinoy Ubuntu enthusiasts IRL and exchange stories or two off the IRC channel hehe
May 14th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I wish I was there
Well next time I hope. 
May 15th, 2008 at 4:49 am
Too bad I wasn’t able to join (had to WORK, grr!), but at least my team mates were there to share the fun.
Congrats.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
hi! when’s the next party? this october? i wanna come! i need some free cds!