Here are more coverage of the Imagine Cup local finals :)

Ateneo team win MS Imagine Cup Finals
Manila Times (B4)
http://manilatimes.net/national/2009/april/27/yehey/techtimes/20090427tech2.html

Microsoft competition to focus on Millennium Development Goals
Business Mirror (C4)
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/component/content/article/52-technology/9461-microsoft-competition-to-focus-on-millennium-development-goals.html

Ateneo to represent RP in programming tilt
Inquirer.net
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090420-200431/Ateneo-to-represent-RP-in-programming-tilt

Microsoft competition to focus on MDGs
ABS-CBN News
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/technology/04/28/09/microsoft-competition-focus-mdgs

And they are still coming! </tim>

They have done it again!  The Ateneo de Manila University has defended their title as champions in the recently concluded Imagine Cup 2009 Software Design Philippine finals.  The competition was held in the Augusto R. Gonzales theater of De La Salle College of Saint Benilde on April 20, 2009.

The winning team, Nohako Studios, developed a system called Caduceus that will consolidate the medical records of Filipinos and, through data mining, generate useful information that will aid researchers and policy makers.  Two of the team members have also represented the country in last year’s competition in Paris.

We’ve invited experts in the field of technology, research, entrepreneurship, and governance to be part of our distinguished panel of judges.  They are Agnes Aliman (UNIC National Information Officer), Beng Coronel (President, Philippine Software Industry Association), Arup Maity (President/CEO, BlastAsia), and Dr. Jaime Caro (Chairman, UPD Department of Computer Science).

The champions will receive a free trip to Cairo, Egypt to compete in the Imagine Cup World Finals on July 3-9, 2009.  They will also receive Php40,000 worth of training from our sponsor MiSNET.  The 2nd place and 3rd place teams will receive Php20,000 and Php10,000 gift certificates, respectively.  All team finalists will be registered to BizSpark and get software, support, and visibility to help them refine their projects and produce startup companies.  Free Microsoft certification exam vouchers will also be given to all finalists!

The other finalists are Team Council of Green (College of Saint Benilde, 2nd place), Team Xception(Letran Manila, 3rd place), Team CIMA (De La Salle University), and Team Magn.IT.Co (Letran Manila).

Check out our online album for more photos!

View Full Album

Software design is just one of the 9 competition categories of the Imagine Cup.  The other competitions are held online and students from different countries go head to head competing for the finalist slots to go to Egypt.  Check out the students from the Philippines who have passed the first round of eliminations and are just a step away from the world finals!  see results here.

Read more about it…

News Coverage from GMA Channel 7 and QTV Channel 11

There are lots of people to thank for making this event successful.  Thanks to our beautiful host/emcee Michelle Casio (Public Sector), our event sponsor MiSNET, our host school College of Saint Benilde, our event agency Creative Synergy Inc, our PR team Perceptions, our event support Mellie Valimento (I-PLUS), the Microsoft Student Partners, and the DPE team.  Many thanks to all!

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Round 2 Winners!

And now, the announcement everyone is waiting for… the top 5 teams who will compete in the local finals!

Congratulations! Good luck!

Round 3: Local Finals (April 13, 2009)

see more updates…

In no particular order, the teams who move on to Round 2 are…

• Team Noblesse Oblige
  • School: DLS-College of St. Benilde
  • Members: Arjay R. Orcasitas, Kathleen Tang, Mario Luigi Vibal, Abram John Limpin
  • Mentor: Eisen Sy
• Team Buo Loob
  • School: DLS-College of St. Benilde
  • Members: Albert Salazar, Sam Miclat, Keith de Guzman
• Team Magn.IT.Co
  • School: Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila
  • Members:  John Christopher de Lara, Aaron James Domingo, Chester Lato, Ian David Vinoya
• Team Council of Green
  • School: DLS College of St. Benilde
  • Members:  Riela Isabel Antonio, Joseph Ranee Buluran, Timothy Kevin Co, Roberto Galang, Jr.
  • Mentor: Ebenezer Uy
• Team Xception
  • School: Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila
  • Members:  Jacob Reyes, Julius Lozano, Paul Anthony De Leon, Vangeline Nacis
  • Mentor: Robby Manubay
• Team Nohako Studios
  • School: Ateneo de Manila University
  • Members: Philip Michael A. Cheang, Thomas T. Dy, Wilhansen Joseph B. Li, Rodrick K. Tan
  • Mentor: Ma. Mercedes Rodrigo
• Team Panacean Virus
  • School: Ateneo de Manila University
  • Members:  Kevin Christopher Go, Victor Patrick Tanedo, Florence Nicko Valdez
  • Mentor: Adrian Rodriguez
• Team ICB
  • School: Ateneo de Manila University
  • Members:  James Andrew C. Choa, Ken Darione A. Lee, Kristine Ester D. Pascual
• Team Tala
  • Schools: UP Diliman, St. Scholastica’s College, AMA QC, UST
  • Members:  Cesar Antonio Cuaresma, Pamela Fernandez Bringino, Chrisfelin Mandigma Regala, Arizia De Leon Sumilang
• Team I-TANIM
  • School: De La Salle University, Manila
  • Members: Joanne Monique G. Flores, Camille R. Asoy, Ivan Paul Benedict O. Bautista, Marie Angelique R. Teneros
  • Mentor: Sherwin Ona

Congratulations to everyone! See you in Round 2!

In no particular order, the teams who move on to Round 2 are…

1. Team Noblesse Oblige - DLS College of St. Benilde
2. Team Buo Loob – DLS College of St. Benilde
3. Team Magn.IT.Co – Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila
4. Team Council of Green – DLS College of St. Benilde
5. Team Xception – Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila
6. Team Nohako Studios – Ateneo de Manila University
7. Team Panacean Virus – Ateneo de Manila University
8. Team ICB – Ateneo de Manila University
9. Team Tala – UP Diliman, St. Scholastica’s College, AMA QC, UST
10. Team I-TANIM – De La Salle University, Manila 

Congratulations to everyone! See you in Round 2!

Round 1 deadline moved to March 16!

Welcome to the Imagine Cup Software Design Competition for the Philippines.

This competition is open to all students in the Philippines. For more information on eligibility requirements, see the competition rules.

Round 1: Project Proposals (March 16, 2009)

• Form teams of up to 4 members with 1 mentor
• Download the proposal template here.  A sample proposal can be downloaded here.
• Teams must submit their project proposal in the Imagine Cup portal and email to acadph@microsoft.com on or before March 16, 2009.  Please wait for an acknowledgement email.
• Criteria for Judging: Design (60%), Originality (20%), Impact/Theme (20%).
• 10 Teams will advance to Round 2.  Announcement of qualifiers is on March 20, 2009.

Round 2: Lightning Round (March 30, 2009)

• Teams should prepare a 15 minute presentation (+5 minutes Q&A). No demo, but screenshots are allowed.
• Teams will have two chances to present to a different set of judges.
• Judging criteria the same as Round 1.
• 5 Teams will advance to Round 3.  Finalists will be announced the same day.

Round 3: Local Finals (April 13, 2009)

• The Imagine Cup 2009 Local Finals in the Philippines will be hosted by DLS-College of Saint Benilde.
• Finalists should prepare a 20 minute presentation including demo (+10 minutes Q&A).
• Judging criteria and scoring process is patterned from the world finals.