Yesterday was the first ever Bloggers Summit in the Philippines, the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 1 held at 4th Floor NCCC Mall, Davao organized by the Usual Suspects. Thank you very much for that, it was very very very successful. Thank you for the prizes, I got an IBM Notebook and a web hosting plan.
I arrived the mall at about 10:30pm. I went directly to the 4th Floor, checked the summit area and saw a lot of adults there. I was already in front of the registration desk, still feeling the anxiety (takot na hindi makarelate). I heard the voice of kuya Migs from outside and they were about to sing the National Anthem. I backed out on my first attempt, went back down.
Keynote Speech: Blogging and Participatory Governance
After some while, I went up again and finally I registered. I was the 28th to register, with the ID 0028. I did not know anyone of them, so I random picked a table. I tried to talk with my seatmate, that was ate Dulce. I introduced myself, and she introduced herself too. I asked her URL, it was http://dulcenegosyante.com/ (sounds like she’s owning an e-store). We had a small chat. That time, Davao City Councilor Peter Laviña was having his keynote speech (Blogging and Participatory Governance). It was nice, he cited some cities and states which used blogging for participative governance.
After the speech, there was a raffle of two IBM notebooks. It was light and extra sleek. I did not win that time, but there were still a lot of goodies.
Blogging in Mindanao: Travel & Technology
The next speaker was Mr. Bob Martin. He was born at Slovania and is staying in Mindanao for 5 years. He owns the Mindanao.com, LiveinthePhilippines.com, [luzonvisayasormindanao].wowphilippines.com/[cityorprovince] and a lot other proPhilippines travel blog. He owns 150 websites, but he personally maintains 6. He has his own web server on the States and he is hosting kuya Blogie of the Usual Suspects. His speech was on Travel and Technology. He showcased his travels all over Mindanao. He keeps on traveling cause the more he travels the more he earns! Nice, like Sports Unlimited’s Marc Nelson and Diane Castillejo!
After his speech was a Promote-Your-Blog filler. I volunteered to promote my blog, kapal talaga ng mukha but it was fun. After that was another raffle, now two IBM pens. I still didn’t win but Kuya Aethen did! That was the time when I recognized him, then moments later they transferred with us (me and ate Dulce).
Socio-Cultural Mindset of the Mindanaoan
Then it was Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ’s turn for the Socio-Cultural Mindset of Mindanaoans. It was nice and contentful even though it was not that lively. He showed statistics on the reality in Mindanao. He also presented the music video “Meme na Mindanaw”. I don’t think if I’m allowed to post this so I’ll just give you a link to the video at YouTube.
Free Lunch and this English Guy
Then, it was lunch time. Yey, it was a surprise FREE LUNCH for everyone courtesy of Dimsum Diner. Everyone was hapy with the meal cause its free. While eating, this pretty weird slang guy from England dropped by our table. He asked one of us, “whachuduwin?”. At first we didn’t understand but we eventually did. He talked a lot about his company and asked our email address. The only words I can understand from him were open source and outsourcing, he ate the other words! He asked about the programming languages we use, then he told me he start programming at 6. Damn, I started at 10! When he left, ate Dulce and I broke up laughing!! Pasaway na bata!
Google Presentation
After lunch, there was a Google Video Presentation by ate Aileen, not sure in this part cause I just based it on the program.
Transition from “Emo” to Niche Blogging
Then it was ate Kim Castillo of Southisms‘ time to speak. She discussed on “Transistion from Emo to Niche Blogging”. I agree to here that only your closest friends would read very personal blogs! Who cares about your life, right? It was interesting and very true.
Then another raffle again, now it’s kuya Ayel (Ariel Lalisan) who won something. Can’t remember what he won.
Surprise by Matt of WordPress
After which (according to the program) was the Surprise part! You know Matt of WordPress? He knew about the summit so he sent a video message to us. He also sent us t-shirts but it didn’t make it on time. Maybe next week.
Then it was kuya Jayvee Fernandez‘ turn. He talked about Problogging and new media. He compared the earnings of print publishers and bloggers. Based on his presentation, probloggers get more money and more free time to do the things they want. Pretty interesting! His presentation was nice, Mac effects! Anyway, he owns A Bugged Life.com and the technology channel editor of b5media, a top blog network.
Supposed to be How to Optimize Your WordPress Blog for Top Search Rankings
Another raffle round then it was Marc Macalua of Macalua.com who also works or owns the SEO Philippines. He was supposed to speak on How to Optimize Your WordPress Blog for Top Search Rankings but he left his presentation in Manila so he talked about some SEO stuff. Still interesting, he also brought up benefits of IT related work, with the rates.
MBS1 Resolutions, nice one!
Then the “Presentation of Summit Resolutions: The Role of Bloggers in Fostering Understanding & Peace in Mindanao“. The resolution was nice and it is yet to be posted on Mindanao Bloggers. I agree with the resolution and I promise to always keep in mind my love for Mindanao. I LOVE MINDANAO, yeah! Mindanao is the best!
Then they gave out Google bags with lots of freebies. Then it was the Pick Their Brains:
Session with A-List Bloggers part. Everyone can ask anything about blogging to any of the A-List Blogger. The A-List bloggers were Abe Olandres, Andrew dela Serna, Bob Martin, Marc Macalau and Jayvee Fernandez. Questions ranged from rights of bloggers to the payment of tax. It more-or-less smooth forum. I had some questions in mind but I didn’t mind to ask them. ;D
Also, kuya Jayvee Fernandez of A Bugged Life first publicly announced their new localized web advertisment agency. They’ll be launching it by next week hopefully and its not in the web still. We have signed up through paper. What’s nice about it is it is a pay-per-view scheme, not pay-per-click unlike AdSense.
After the program was a picture-taking and autograph signing session. We were like celebrities there, everyone wanted to have a picture and autograph of everybody. It feels nice, plus its a form of bonding. I also asked kuya Marc Macalua for an autograph, I tried the other A-List bloggers but they were talking to each other. Kuya Marc also gave me his calling card and asked me to send some of my works to him cause they’re looking for a copywriter. Neat, huh.
Then, after the autograph and picture-taking, we strolled the Davao Trade Expo. There we saw a booth of Indonesia. We took pictures with the Indonesians and we enjoyed it. There were also a lot of free taste booths there so we really had fun.
Fun Part
Kuya Blogie treated us for dinner, so we went with them.
We ate our dinner just in front of the Bloggers Fellowship Night the Casa Habana, which was Pinutos. We ate our meals there then after dinner we went back to Casa Habana.
Someone from SEO Philippines treated us one bottle of drinks. Yeah, I got one in front of the camera. Anyway, no one’s gonna see aside from the bloggers.
The entertainer was sort of fun. I enjoyed it, even though it was NOT FOR KIDS. Medyo strict ang parents ko, NIDO everyday parin dapat. Hehehe.
Durugtungan later.
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Hi! Thanks for the mention on your site! Just wanted to clear up two things, though. First, I am not from Slovenia, I’ve never even been there! I am from the United States!
Secondly, I have actually been living in Mindanao for almost 8 years already! The five years is how long I have lived in Davao City, but I lived in GenSan before this.