| Al Ain Mavens hosts this year’s maiden workshop - featuring Adobe Photoshop CS4 |
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By: Engr. Cesar Napoleon B. Dumo, Jr. – Chairman, On-Line Publication / Branch Team Leader – Deira Heroes Al Ain - Photoshop has evolved from just an artist's tool to a platform of visual magic. When a simple picture is transformed to a tapestry of masterful strokes and vibrant combinations, when black and white photographs are morphed into a bright imagery of color and personality, then the amateur photographer becomes a Hidalgo, a Luna, a da Vinci.  The long arduous trip from Dubai to Al Ain was quickly overcome by the lush scenery and beauteous simplicity of the Abu Dhabi province. The trees seemed greener, the streets cleaner, and even the skies shown a deeper blue. Perhaps it was the air, perhaps it was the people. When Digerati President and Board of Trustee Rizalina R. Abuel and Digerati Photoshop’s expert Jan Ray Toledo entered the rooms filled with eager Al Ain students, they were overwhelmed and humbled by the welcome just a shade short of celebrity. Although they had expected a warm reception, the ambience and applause was enough to remove any lethargy borne of the lengthy travel. From Digerati's birth, the organization has already started offering free workshops to its students every term and at present the same humble and inspiring practice is continuously observed. In fact, under the new administration, academic activities like these are even strengthened with the unyielding supervision of the incumbent VP-Education Cepriano C. Reyes where its implementation is far reaching all the other branches nationwide. Al Ain chose Adobe Photoshop, as did the branch in Deira, Za’abeel and Sharjah. These workshops are glimpses of courses offered, or may be offered to a certain branch. This also allows Digerati to gauge the response of the students if it should be part of the branch’s curriculum.  Jan Ray flaunted the power of Adobe Photoshop to the students who watched with slack jaws and rounded eyes. It was truly a magnificent display of software proficiency and artistic dexterity, as he, aside from his boyish charm, tantalized the 45-strong crowd from 9:30am to 1:00pm. As the class ended, it was evident that the workshop was a resounding success.  As President Lina and Jan Ray prepared to leave, they knew all too well that Al Ain Team Leader Carlos Ibarra and Founder / Board of Trustee Lee Bautista’s faith in her Al Ain Mavens was well placed. Aside from the fantastic scenery, here in Al Ain they knew that the Filipino spirit was strong, and their will to learn, even stronger. Leaving was definitely more difficult than going there. As they walked slowly towards the car, Jan Ray took one longing look at the learning halls of Al Ain and smiled boyishly to President Lina saying, “Ma’am, balik tayo ulet, hah?”
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