Entries from May 2009 ↓

The best thing about the internet is also (unfortunately) the worst thing about it. It’s fast and real-time, it exposes you to a worldwide audience instantly, and everyday it’s becoming more and more personal. One day, you’re just writing a blog, uploading photos and videos on-the-go. The next day, you are on Twitter updating the world of the mundane schedule of your uneventful life.

Get an inline mic and you can start podcasting right away. Buy yourself a phone with video capability, upload the video on YouTube and bam! — instant celebrity! The tagline says it all — “Broadcast Yourself”.

But it’s not so bad, really.  Many previously-unheard-of world-class talents who used to sing solely in their rooms or play instrument in the basement have now become YouTube overnight sensations. Not to mention we get really hot, as-it-happens news as well, all because of the wonder that is the internet. Continue reading →

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This is exactly why I like this P2 WordPress theme! I can update from the homepage so long as I'm logged in. Now, I don't have to bore and pester my Twitter friends whenever I have not-so-short-and-sweet thoughts. :) Freedom from the pressure of the dashboard and the long and winding road of editing through that console is usually what makes me rather lazy whenever I had something in mind that I wanted to write. The moment I see that screen, I dread at the thought of clicking on save -- which to me seems to take forever. This is a whole lot better.

Now, if only I can find a way to add a title to each rush post. Hmmm. I'll figure that out soon, I'm pretty sure. Well, I'm off to the real world now. Catch you later, virtual friends. Hey, whatcha up to today? :)

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The day after Mother's Day 2009 -- May 11th, was a usual day at Twitter. Startrek discussions have not quite ended, and so are those about Mother's Day. But 2100H, Manila time (GMT+8), while tweeting and looking at the trending topics (which I do half the time while I tweet), I found a pleasant surprise -- "Philippines" is trending on Twitter! Now, I'm not really sure if this has happened before, since the implementation of the "Trending Topics" sidebar, but I sure am one happy patriotic and nationalistic Filipino twitterer to see my country make it to the top 10 "Trending Topics" on Twitter. I mean, considering how many seemingly endless and varied topics are discussed on Twitter everyday, for a topic to make it to the top 10 is remarkable. I don't know exactly what triggered it, who started it or whether it was just incidental or anything, but one thing is for sure, Twitter sure "changes the conversation" and it's so powerful that it can bring a lot of people together. It was delightful to suddenly see how Pinoys reacted and suddenly participated in the discussion and how everyone else from around the Twittersphere, all around the world started joining in to find out why "Philippines" is trending. Then came tweets about fun facts about the Philippines, our kababayans abroad suddenly tweeting how they miss the food, the people, the beaches. And how other nationalities tweet about good experiences they've had about their previous visit/s to the Philippines. It's heart-warming. It evokes pride and nationalism. It evokes, above all things, the feeling of hope for this country we dearly love.

The 2010 Philippine Presidential Elections is happening a year from now. And I think, in this technology-driven era we live in, it would be in our best interest to use technology in a way that will be beneficial to our country. Social networks are no doubt the ruler of the web at this point. And Twitter leads the herd.

If you tweet, let us use tweeting to promote awareness and spread relevant, useful and timely information as it relates to the upcoming 2010 Philippine Presidential Elections. The internet is a powerful tool. How we use that power is up to us. Let's use it to better ourselves and our nation.

For tweets about the upcoming elections, I recommend using the #philippines2010 hashtag. Let's start a conversation. Who knows, maybe a single tweet can change the Philippine future. All it takes is one, two, three tweets. Mabuhay Twitter! Mabuhay Philippines! Mabuhay ang Pilipino!

If you're still not on Twitter, where have you been all this time? :) Sign up for Twitter now! And, while you're at it, you might want to follow me on Twitter, too. Tweet you soon!

P.S.
Further research showed me other possible reasons why "Philippines" made it to the "Trending Topics":
1. Recent typhoon/s that wrecked Bicol and Pangasinan, leaving more or less 40 casualties.
2. David Archuleta and David Cook of American Idol are coming over here for a concert performance.
3. Eventual enthusiastic tweeting of Filipinos following the first two.
4. Just because. :)

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What's love got to do with it? Everything. What's culture got to do with it? Everything. Love is love. We may express it in myriad ways, but we all feel the same high and the same low it brings. Photo credits: @virb

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Blogging, as in any other endeavor known to man, is not really a walk in the park contrary to popular belief. It requires effort. Sometimes, even a little bit of research and courage. Most times, a little bit of both.

For the uninitiated few, they choose to believe otherwise. They think that just about anyone with a computing device and an internet connection can blog. They assume that all you have to do is sign up for a blogging service, type in hints of not-so-personal info, and voila! -- instant blogger! -- instant celebrity! All you have to do is sit in front of a PC and type away the trivialities of your life hoping that you can bank on that oh-so-used-up movie line that “If you build it, they will come.” Translated to blogging --- “If you blog it, they will read it.” I wish it were truly as easy as that. But in reality, it doesn't work that way. If it did, then nobody would be watching TV anymore, right? Really, no kidding. Because for those who have discovered the pleasure of blogging, they know that TV pales in comparison to that natural high they get from whiling the hours away online.

Few people, however, recognize the fact or are at least aware of the fact that blogging – as hip and trendy and “so high school” as it may sound, is serious stuff. And by serious, I don't mean “emo”. When I say serious, I'm referring to something that separates the occasional journal writer to the obsessive-compulsive purist blogger who lives and breathes the online world and everything else that goes with it – be it good or bad.

You see, spawning content from a free flow or words conjured by one's thoughts might be easy enough for someone born with a pen stuck to his/her mouth and a netbook held on one hand. But even writers, with all the accolades given to them, still confess to experiencing occasional or even frequent bouts with writer's block. And just when you thought you learned all that you had to learn about blogging, something new and outlandish comes along. And you are left with no other choice but to take it as it comes and catch up with everyone else. In blogging, you either evolve or you die (I'm just trying to be poetic here..there is life beyond blogging, of course).

Take this post for example. I started typing and pulling words out of thin air all because I wanted to let you all know that iBlog5: The 5^th Philippine Blogging Summit is happening tomorrow, May 9, 2009 at the Malcolm Theater of the UP Law Center. It would be from 8:00am until 5:00pm, but there will be an After-Party, so party people, you're encouraged to stay on.

I would have opted to tell you this sooner, like, in the first (or even the second) paragraph of this post – that would've been fairly easy. I'd tell you that there's an event coming up, enumerate the “what / who/ when/ where / how” and my job would be done. Easy as pie.

But then again, doing so would spoil the whole point of blogging, would it?

Why?

Because blogging breathes life to an otherwise dull and inanimate information – bits of data that would probably appeal only to those who enjoy rocket science and no-nonsense-in-your-face-straight-to-the-point exchange of information. And is that what you want? I thought so.

So once again, annoying as I may sound, I'd like to remind you once more of this OPEN INVITATION, for bloggers and non-bloggers alike. If you think you're a good enough blogger, attend and learn some more. If you're a newbie and want to take your blogging to the so-called “next level”, let not this chance pass you by.

There's a lot more to learn. And there are a lot of people willing and able to share their experiences and help you out. It would be ridiculous to miss out on something this good, I say. :)

iBlog5: The 5^th Philippine Blogging Summit is a meeting of minds – of blogging minds – and future blogging minds. Come one, come all. Experience the phenomenon that is making waves in politics, marketing, information dissemination and exchange, lifestyle and everything else in between.

Forget about what you've heard before. Forget about what you've seen before. You can even forget about what you've read here. iBlog5 is IT.

OFFICAL and FINAL SCHEDULE is here. Unfortunately, registration has been over since April 30. BUT, you can still go to the event. Food and freebies cannot be guaranteed for unregistered people/late registrants though. We hope you understand.

Also, I apologize if this post came out late. I blog in between doing the laundry, cooking and tumble-playing with my 4 year old boy, so please forgive me for being overly forgetful. This may no longer serve the purpose for which it was written then. But hey, who knows? Some people may get to read it tonight.

Oh, why is it called a “summit”, you ask? That's because blogging is an uphill battle, and the road to the top is perilous and slippery. But once you get to the summit, the feeling is exhilarating, and the view -- oh so breathtaking. So go to the summit and marvel at the view from the top! Whoever said that "it's lonely at the top" has probably never been to a blogging "summit" before. :)

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Nature Tripping on a Boxing Day, originally uploaded by rjmarmol.

While everyone is home eagerly anticipating the delayed telecast of the Pacquiao-Hatton fight (which Pacquiao won by TKO at round 2!), I'm here at Tagaytay Garden Hotel overlooking the beautiful Taal lake for my new godson's christening.

I wish my new godson Hael Nikolai the best of everything. May God pour upon him countless blessings.

To my fellow Filipinos, woo hoo! Great job, Manny!

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