Professional Organizations International IT professional organizations:

Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) - The organization’s mission is to provide superior leadership and education in Information Technology. AITP is dedicated to using the synergy of Information Technology partnerships to provide education and benefits to our members and to working with the industry to assist in the overall promotion and direction of Information Technology.
American Society for Information Science (ASIS) - Since 1937 ASIS has been the society for information professionals leading the search for new and better theories, techniques, and technologies to improve access to information. ASIS brings together diverse streams of knowledge, focusing what might be disparate approaches into novel solutions to common problems. ASIS bridges the gaps not only between disciplines but also between the research that drives and the practices that sustain new developments
The Information Technology & Telecommunications Association (ITTA) - The Information Technology and Telecommunications Association is the resource for information technology and telecommunications professionals involved in transporting, connecting and integrating data, image, video and voice.
Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP) - Founded in 1973, the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals is acknowledged throughout the information and technology sectors as an authoritative source of professional certification. The CCP examinations demand a high degree of professional competence. The tests are organized into 17 specialty exams ranging from Business Information Systems to RPG/400 Language.
The System Administrators Guild (SAGE) and the USENIX Association - The organization’s mission is to advance the status of computer system administration as a profession, establish standards of professional excellence and recognize those who attain them, develop guidelines for improving the technical and managerial capabilities of members of the profession, and promote activities that advance the state of the art or the community.

National IT professional organizations:

Information Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP) - is a private, independent and non-profit association whose members are composed of leading product and service providers of Information and Communications Technology. The group is aimed at promoting ICT development and its usage as it contributes to the economic growth and global competitiveness of the Philippines.
Information Technology Foundation of the Philippines - was established in 1994 and acts as an umbrella for around eleven ICT associations in the country. The mission of ITFP is to represent and act as the single voice of the Philippine IT sector. The objectives are to accelerate the development of the Philippine Information Technology industry and help the segment by conducting and supporting projects and activities that will lead to the attainment of its purposes.

Information Systems Audit and Control Association ISACA-Manila Chapter is an organization for Information Systems (IS) professionals in the Philippines providing a source of information, education and guidance in IS auditing, control and security. They provide complimentary download of COBIT™ and offers CISA. and CISM™ accreditation to its members.

As an IT graduating students of the College, what Certification or Licensing you are aiming for? Why?

Licensing could become a venue to assess the expertise, knowledge and skills of an individual in the field; hence, excellence and quality of performance is always assured of. It could serve as an evidence proficiency and capability of doing the things you are expected to be come an good IT professional in future.

Google @ China

Google is the largest search engine with the most number of users worldwide (?) It pro¬vides a means for users to search through the Internet any information needed. Google also pro-vides service as GMail – an electronic mail service.
Some time, Chinese authorities censored search results from Google and hacked some GMail accounts in its way to investigate some human rights activists. China’s act of what is known as “cyber oppression” is such a manifestation of what is called intrusion or violation of ones right to privacy.
With what China did, Google withdraws its operation in the country. This is such a good decision. This is a very positive develop¬ment in safeguarding Internet users from unauthorized disclosure of personal accounts. It proves the premise that not all organizations are only on the look for big profit but also to the protection of its patrons right to privacy.

The above post is a reflection or essay on the article of Dr. Florangel Braid in Manila Bulletin entitled "Google and Skype".