I've seen other developers with the MVP status (such as Rick Strahl, a great MVP) and always thought that it would go nicely with my MCSD.NET and MCT certifications, but never knew anything about it. I do go around helping developers with .NET development issues and other things along that line, but had no idea that it was a part of being an MVP. Earlier this year I was invited to do a lecture at the Microsoft Web RampUp (kind of like the MS DevDays event), which gave me a great opportunity to meet other local developers in the Cebu City area. Since then I've done some free MSDN training here in Cebu and it was nice to keep meeting more Cebu City area software developers. I look forward to doing several more free training session to help build up a stronger software development community here.

After doing an MSDN training at the Microsoft Cebu office, Angie Radan (an MS employee in Manila) invited me to apply for the MVP. She asked a lot of questions about me and the various work I do "to help out the community of software developers", and a couple of months later I get an email from Microsoft telling me I am one of 164 MVPs in the South East Asia region. I have to admit it made me feel good to get that email.

Today, my MVP award arrived via FedEx and I was shocked to see a real glass award and certificate in the box, which was another pleasant surprise. So now, I'm an MVP in C# and now I feel a desire to help the local development community as much as I can to keep up the status.