It’s not frivolous like that in “The Internship” movie and not cut-throat (literally and figuratively) like that in “The Hunger Games” movie.
Seriously, the Microsoft’s Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition. Recently, Microsoft Philippines through its Country General Manager, Ms. Karrie Ilagan sealed its partnership for this prestigious student developer program with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) represented by USec Louis Casambre. This is in line with Microsoft’s “Angat. Asenso. Bawat Pilipino” program which aims to align its goals and objectives with the focus programs of the government, that is, the 3Es (Educated People, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Efficient Government).
Photos by Eyriche Cortez.
Currently on its 12th year, more than 1.65 million students from more than 190 countries have competed in the Imagine Cup. So far, over 1,000 young Filipinos got the opportunity to transform their ideas into wonderful apps in this competition. For the first time, next year’s competition will be held at the headquarters of Microsoft in Seattle, Washington.
According to Marion Pilande, Imagine Cup 2010/2011 winner, “We Filipinos have an edge in the competition. Our country has even fielded college students against those with Master’s degrees and PHDs.” He gave this winning tip: “Just stick to the criteria of the competition.”
The winning team in the Philippine competition will win PHP50,000 prize money among other things. (In the International competition, it will go up to US$50,000!) Plus, according to Ms. Katrina Macaraig, Audience Marketing Manager, they will harness the winners for a future career at Microsoft Philippines. And, in view of recent hacking of government websites, DOST’s Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Mon Ibrahim, jokingly quipped, “One good thing with this competition is that they don’t become hackers.”
For more info regarding the Imagine Cup competition, visit its website at http://www.imaginecup.com/.
