Indeed, it is with great joy and pride to see the Philippines - particularly those from Mindanao - reaching out, sharing and touching lives to both technical and non-technical groups and pursuing advocacy in the adoption and use of Free/Open Source Software in line with the
objectives of the IOSN ASEAN+3.

The SFD2008 DabaweGNU Team, led by Holden Hao made it to the top 3 with Nepal and Nicaragua and won for each team a pair of OLPC laptops from SFD International.  DabaweGNU has been a reliable partner of IOSN ASEAN+3 in its various projects.

SFD2008 Team freeIT, led by Mylene Sereno, is from the Mindanao State University in General Santos City.  MSU-GenSan is the first OpenHUB state university designated by the IOSN ASEAN+3 as a F/OSS resource center for the SoCSKSarGen (South Cotabato-Sultan
Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos) region.  Its SFD2008 participation is another important step in its aim to raise awareness and appreciation of F/OSS among the various individuals and groups in General Santos City and thereby facilitating its outreach program to other areas in the region.

DabaweGNU and freeIT - as SFD2008 winners - have successfully fulfilled its mission to tell the world that F/OSS in the Philippines is alive and kicking.

DabaweGNU and freeIT - as strong F/OSS groups in their communities - have further reached out and shared the benefits and advantages of what F/OSS can bring to their personal and professional lives.

DabaweGNU and freeIT - as reliable partners and volunteers to IOSN ASEAN+3 - have truly earned our highest regards to their unwavering support our shared advocacy in building capacities through F/OSS.

DabaweGNU and freeIT, truly Pinoy's pride and role models for the Pinoy F/OSS community!

To the rest of the SFD2008 Philippine and other world teams, our equally sincere gratitude for all jobs well done.

MABUHAY Pilipinas!  Mabuhay F/OSS!  Mabuhay SFD2008!

More at http://www.softwarefreedomday.org/Competition2008

-- by Francisco "Francis"  E. Sarmiento III, MD