This is my personal statement regarding the formation and organization of the supposed "National Bloggers Association." This is not the formal statement or position of the Mindanao New Media Group nor of the Davao Bloggers Group. About a week ago, I was informed of the existence of a "Bloggers' Manifesto" that was forwarded to a selected group of bloggers. After asking around, I was forwarded the manifesto which was tagged as "Not for circulation." After the manifesto, there was a solicitation for feedback. The manifesto was forwarded to bloggers by Tonyo Cruz. In the email, there was no mention of who the authors of the draft manifesto are and who the convenors of the National Bloggers Association are. Since it was supposedly a manifesto supporting the formation of a "National Bloggers Association," I immediately consulted the officers of several bloggers' groups in Visayas and Mindanao. I consulted them the same day I was forwarded a copy of the manifesto. That was March 2. Of the twenty persons I consulted, only 2 of them have received a copy of the manifesto. Among those who didn't receive a copy of the manifesto are: Marie Claire Bretaña Ponsaran, President of Iloilo Bloggers, Junelle…
Up Close and Personal
The first time I watched the Lakan at Lakambini Pageant was 2010. Back then, I was just a spectator and my friends were the judges. Needless to say, I was impressed by the pageant and the depth of talent and grace that the candidates had. They were a fun batch of young kids I enjoyed talking to. And they were good looking too. So when my good friend, Orman Manansala master events engineer of Project O! Consultants, invited me to judge the Lakan at Lakambini ng Gen San 2011, I immediately said yes. The pageant show was going to be on February 23, 2011 and I was going to General Santos City on February 22. On February 21, 2011, I received a call from Orman asking if I would be able to make it to Gen San on February 21, 2011 for the closed door casual interview with the candidates. After re-arranging my schedule, I said yes and braced myself for an interesting afternoon with 20 of the most gorgeous and dashing youth of General Santos City. The Lakan at Lakambini ng Gen San 2011 is a beauty, talent, and personality search and 25% of the final scores of the…
The Making of a Billboard
In September 2007, I jokingly blogged that I want to be in a billboard. If not along EDSA, maybe one along Bangkerohan Bridge, one of the main bridges in Davao City that connects the south to the north. And I reiterated this wish in my Feeling Ko Sikat Ako post. Imagine my excitement when Ms. Victoria Evangelista asked me to be featured in a billboard for Crepelato, a local gelato and dessert shop. I was to be featured with some other Davao personalities and two of my cousins (who shall remain unnamed since they might kill me). Among those to be featured are DOT XI Director Art Boncato, local TV personality and magazine director Ian Garcia, and photgorapher/events host/magazine contributor and consultant Jojie Alcantara. I'm a camwhore and wannabe celeb... I immediately said yes. So one fine day in January 2011, I went to Envy Me Salon to have my hair done, went home to put make up on myself, dress up, and went to Crepelato for the photo shoot. I was a bit bigger than I would have wanted, but I trusted that my hair and my face would distract the public from noticing my ginormous arms. And yeah,…
Why I Blog Contest Winners
It's time to announce the winners for this month's WebSpark and Life with Ria blogging contest. We received a total of 19 entries for our "Why I Blog" Blogging Contest and it was quite hard to judge all the entries. But a few really stood out from the rest. In behalf of WebSpark, I'd like to congratulate the First Prize winner, Joanna Grace Banting-Lapore who shared in her entry Why I Blog the three reasons why she blogs: 1. I blog because I am excited to PUSH beyond my limits. 2. I blog because I am committed to RESONATE beyond my vocal range. 3. I blog because I am committed to INFLUENCE beyond my sphere. Joanna won one Personal Webhosting Package from WebSpark. The two runners-up who each won one Blog-Lite Webhosting Package from WebSpark are: Aubrey Graze Pareja - Why I Blog April Pascoguin - Why I Blog And the winner of the raffle who gets a Blog-Lite Webhosting Package is Entry #7, Alberto Egot Jr. Congratulations to all the winners! We will be holding another blogging contest, with the same prizes on February. The mechanics will be announced in this blog on February 1, 2011. If you want…
Bautista’s Bakak
Not content with taking majority of the awards in the 5th Mindanao FilmFest in 2009 for his film "Sandugo," Ronald Gary Bautista entered two films for the 6th Mindanao FilmFest. And once again, Bautista and his Studio Beta Productions took home four trophies. His film, Bakak gave Bautista his second Best Director trophy, the Best Guerilla Film Award, and the Best Film Award. According to the jury, composed of this writer, Teddy Co of the NCCA, and local artist Rudolph Alama, Bakak's technical excellence and innovative story-telling set the film apart and make it stand out from the other films of the festival. Bautista and his film represents the future of filmmaking in Mindanao, one that is creative, excellent, and deserving of accolades from both the critics and the viewing public. Bakak tells the mysterious events that happen when a teacher and his students enter an allegedly haunted building and not all of them survive the excursion. Through the use of a first person point of view in the story-telling, the viewer feels like he is involved in the film. While the film does not highlight Bautista's technical expertise, it shows how Bautista can excellently execute a film. The first…