It’s May 6, more than 2 weeks after I turned 29. Yes, I’m that old. And it’s time to recap the journey that was my 29th year as a Diyosa. 🙂

As I turned 28, going into the 29th year of my life, my heart was broken but my career was going great.

Right after my birthday, the Avatar Media team held the 3rd Davao Food Appreciation Tour. And what an event it was. In 4 days, 19 bloggers ate at 7 restaurants and enjoyed 4 adventures. All in one city, Davao City.

Around the same time, I embarked on a creative journey as I joined both an Advanced Make Up Workshop and a Beads Jewelry Design Seminar. The first one with Maybelline Philippines’ Chief Color Artist Archie Tolentino, and the second one with renowned jewelry designer Em Mariano. Both seminas have molded me into a better kikay.

I went to Cebu for the 1st Cebu Blog Camp, where a lot of Mindanao New Media members also joined. I delivered a talk on “Blogging in the Community, for the Community.” I’d like to think it was a well-received talk. Kudos to Winston, Vanjahnn, and the rest of the organizers! I hear they’re going to have another one this year.

Shortly after CBC, I got the opportunity to guest in a Pakbet Podkast. This inspired me to start the Diyosa Podcasts beginning with one about the CBC. This eventually evolved into a podcast about love, relationships, and other related emo topics.

As May winded down, Davao Bloggers, CDO Bloggers, and Soccsksargen Bloggers established the Mindanao New Media Group. It was established during the first ever Mindanao Food Appreciation Tour, dubbed as the Soccsksargen Summer Safari. It was the beginning of a loose alliance among groups which aim to deliver a balanced image of Mindanao via social media. Other groups such as Bukidnon Bloggers, Zamboanga Bloggers, and Iligan Bloggers have since joined MNM.

May 2010 was the first time I lined up to vote and actually got to vote in the national and local elections. It was an exciting campaign period and the elections were an even more exciting experience for me.

On the same month, some friends and I went to our family resthouse to celebrate the birthday of Kuya Andrew and Lyle. I think it was one of the very few moments in my 29th year that I was not in touch with the online world and it was a very refreshing experience. Parang nag-retreat kami. 🙂

Somewhere online, the wedding video of comedienne Tuesday Vargas became popular and while I rarely think about my own wedding and marriage, I’d like to have a wedding like hers.

Around July, I was asked to audition to host a local tv show about poker. I failed the audition but got a gig as head writer of the show, Davao Poker TV. While we were able to do some work on a few episodes, the show hasn’t taken off yet. Due to many different reasons. But I enjoyed it while it lasted.

The Davao Bloggers had another Creative Writing Workshop which challenged a lot of us to improve our writing skills. Thanks to the mentorship of Mr. Rene Lizada!

Some of us were lucky enough to be invited to join the Planters Bank SME Series and we attended the talk by Ms. Francis J. Kong on “Ethics: Adding Value to your Business.” It was a very insightful and thought-provoking talk that helped most of us deal better with challenges in our career as bloggers.

I also had the opportunity to work with my friend Kring Elenzano and the Flippish crew on two online episodes about Davao City. And it was a very enjoyable experience.

August 2010 was the most trying time in my life. I was hospitalized for dengue. But after 2 blood transfusions worth 8 units of blood, my platelets were still slow so I had to undergo a very paranoia-inducing Bone Marrow Aspiration procedure. Results of which confirmed that I have Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). After one week of hospitalization, I had to stay with my Mommy and Daddy and stay inside the house for a month. One month of no sunshine! And I had to take very large doses of steroids to weaken my immune system and increase my platelet count.

I was not as emo as I expected myself to be. Even with the prospect of living a life inside a bubble and even with a chance of being diagnosed with a more serious or fatal illness. I was just happy to be alive and still able to write.

That time, I focused on blogging and working for WordCamp Ph 2010 preparations. I even organized an Kadayawan Networking Event for Bloggers but wasn’t able to go. I was also working from home during the biggest poker tournament in Davao yet, the Eagle Cup.

Fortunately, I am not in remission and my regular CBC tests and check ups show I am still healthy. However, I have to take care of myself better and be more cautious about catching illnesses or getting injured. I also have to have another Bone Marrow Aspiration sometime August. Soooo not looking forward to that.

Meantime, I am alive and very much happy about it. And yes, thankful to all the people who visited, sent messages, and helped me through the most difficult time in my life.

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata…

Glamour photo by Eight Espino.
DFAT, CBC, and Lorega Photos by Andrew dela Serna.
MFAT Photo by Charles Ortiz.