PRO Bloggers Block - A Filipino Blogger's Manifesto!
There's also the thought that Filipino bloggers needs one less blabbermouth who might have the balls for a TV appearance just so others would think they have a.) a sense of leadership, b.) a telegenic face, c.) a latent dirty political agenda and d.) All of the above.
A few weeks later I found myself in a situation where I couldn't answer the question "What are you?". Well I could have just kidded around and told the person "C'mon, I'm a human being just like you.". But that's not what the person meant and I knew I just can't kid around forever about what I really am in the context of what I do.
So, "What am I?". My mind answers "I am a blogger." But with issues going around involving bloggers, be it online, of national scope, within a certain blogging organization or within my circles, I can't proudly say I am one. Coulda, woulda, shoulda but I didn't. Then I told the person, "I work online.".
It sucks you know!? It sucks. Then I thought, wouldn't it be nice to wake up one day and tell people "I am a Blogger" as though it's a profession or at least something so cool and nice? A day when you know where to put yourself amidst controversies like 'Sotto's Plagiarism', 'Philippine Bloggers Association' and 'Ethical Issues concerning Bloggers'? A day where the "Big Bad Blogger" would become a tale as old as time and finally a day when you can tell people you just don't work online? And that you rock?
That day is far from becoming a reality as of now, especially with unresolved issues piled up like backlogs waiting to be published, read, shared, scrutinized and commented.
But last December, we had the chance to discuss all these with fellow bloggers each coming from Iloilo, Cebu, Manila and there's me from Davao. There were also some people from NGO's, Traditional Media and Public Relations present who shared their thoughts, views, opinions and helped us come up with a WORKING DRAFT of a Manifesto for PROFESSIONAL BLOGGERS in the Philippines.
Check it out and please share your thoughts! :-)
Who knows, with this Manifesto, there will come a time where nothing can hold us back from saying " I am a Blogger.".
The Extreme Banana Boat Ride Experience!
In between third world family problems and a crazy work schedule I went on a weekend getaway courtesy of Bluejaz Resort. It was there I had one of the most memorable Summer activity one would ever have. It was a good day to enjoy the beach but the sun glared at us with a temperature that would toast me if I were a bread. Then I ordered the clouds to cover the sky but they won't budge! The sky almost looked like a still life canvass. Apparently they are too lazy to move around because everyone is lazy during summer. Even clouds. *shakes head* Even clouds.
So instead of tossing ourselves into the sea, my awesome buddies and I opted to stay under the killjoy shades of comfort, snacks, fake massage, and chatting! Now we don't sound awesome at all. Then came later when we've all agreed to give the banana boat a try.
The activity was just so memorable I thought I was gonna end up in a memorial park. That does not mean it was any bad, as much as it might have been all fun. Perhaps, at some point the Banana Boat ride was fun until it went too extreme that I honestly couldn't tell if I was still having fun. Or maybe because I was crying. I mean, I never cried that much since my Grandpa's passing. I literally cried a sea of tears. Tears that I should have shed a long long time ago. Tears that summed up the melodramatic points of my life.
And in between adrenaline rush, fun, laughter, screams, danger, shark thoughts and a creeping sense of death and as my tears were washed away by the splashing of waves into my face, I felt joy and there was hope. In fact, I was almost close to saying "I feel infinite".
Every time our boat slams into a big wave a sad part of my life falls into the water. It was like I freed myself from all the sad things I've kept inside. And I cried even more. Well, my friends wouldn't notice that because I was happy and they were too busy hugging the banana boat anyway.
After the extreme banana boat ride I said to myself never to do it again. Aside from me being subtly emotional and all in the middle of the fucking ocean, I realized you don't really need a dramatic scene just to free yourself from all things you've kept inside. Sometimes, you just have to be on the verge of all emotions, in the middle of the ocean (oh not really) but seriously, sometimes letting go is by having fun. Also, the boat ride was physically (and for me emotionally) draining.
But after lunch, my energy skyrocketed that I was in for more adventures. In the afternoon we tried Jet ski, zip line, a dip to the infinity pool and Bluejaz Resort's gigantic water slides! It was all in all a very rewarding experience. When we went home and our boat sailed across the sea I looked up the sky and saw that the clouds are moving.
I cant believe it's almost been a year since then. I suppose, I needed a whole year to fully recover and blog about it finally.
So instead of tossing ourselves into the sea, my awesome buddies and I opted to stay under the killjoy shades of comfort, snacks, fake massage, and chatting! Now we don't sound awesome at all. Then came later when we've all agreed to give the banana boat a try.
The activity was just so memorable I thought I was gonna end up in a memorial park. That does not mean it was any bad, as much as it might have been all fun. Perhaps, at some point the Banana Boat ride was fun until it went too extreme that I honestly couldn't tell if I was still having fun. Or maybe because I was crying. I mean, I never cried that much since my Grandpa's passing. I literally cried a sea of tears. Tears that I should have shed a long long time ago. Tears that summed up the melodramatic points of my life.
And in between adrenaline rush, fun, laughter, screams, danger, shark thoughts and a creeping sense of death and as my tears were washed away by the splashing of waves into my face, I felt joy and there was hope. In fact, I was almost close to saying "I feel infinite".
Every time our boat slams into a big wave a sad part of my life falls into the water. It was like I freed myself from all the sad things I've kept inside. And I cried even more. Well, my friends wouldn't notice that because I was happy and they were too busy hugging the banana boat anyway.
After the extreme banana boat ride I said to myself never to do it again. Aside from me being subtly emotional and all in the middle of the fucking ocean, I realized you don't really need a dramatic scene just to free yourself from all things you've kept inside. Sometimes, you just have to be on the verge of all emotions, in the middle of the ocean (oh not really) but seriously, sometimes letting go is by having fun. Also, the boat ride was physically (and for me emotionally) draining.
But after lunch, my energy skyrocketed that I was in for more adventures. In the afternoon we tried Jet ski, zip line, a dip to the infinity pool and Bluejaz Resort's gigantic water slides! It was all in all a very rewarding experience. When we went home and our boat sailed across the sea I looked up the sky and saw that the clouds are moving.
I cant believe it's almost been a year since then. I suppose, I needed a whole year to fully recover and blog about it finally.
Partea! Partea! Tea Has Never Been So Much Fun!
For almost a year I've developed such love for milktea. At present day though I consider myself an occasional milktea drinker (if not average) as I have already survived a month without a handy cup of my favorite red milktea with tapioca pearls. In short, I rehabilitated myself from it before I get totally addicted and I mean for real. My friends, however, still call me a milktea addict as I was a self-proclaimed one back then. If my memory serves me right, milktea started to become a big thing in Davao about exactly a year ago. All of a sudden, there was milktea craze which lead to rampant openings of homegrown milktea stores and store franchises in the city. And now that the milktea business is on its peak, we hear of milktea stores opening every now and then, just like the one that opened last Month.
Situated in front of Ateneo De Davao University's bold gate in Jacinto St., is the new milktea store called 'Partea! Partea!' that comes with the catchy tagline 'Tea Has Never Been So Much Fun!'. And with their brightly colored chairs of green and vermillion, the store sets up an atmosphere where students would most likely love to have a cup of tea and very soon a noonday snack.
Of all the milkteas in Davao, I have to say that Partea! Partea! offers a new option and a different taste to milktea aficionados. Their original milktea formula kicks in with a mild tea taste, a creamy texture and a lip-smacking sweetness that is good but might not suit the taste of half health-conscious and half pretentious costumers who requests for less sugar, less sinkers, less ice and sometimes don't order at all.
During the taste-testing Andrew, Chattee and I did before the opening we came up with one instant favorite and it's the Lychee Tea with Strawberry Poppers. Yes! It's not milktea but it's a good alternative to someone who simply needs a refreshment after bathing under the sun or someone who suffer from lactose intolerance. Plus it has poppers! I wonder how the result would be any different to the lactose-intolerant when something still pops.
On boring days I would save up my P100 just to buy a milktea with Rock Salt and Cheese. But in Partea! Partea! you can already have one at P30 less. That's the surprise they have for RSC lovers. It goes well with the wintermelon milktea which was the one I ordered during the opening. They might want to add some more RSC though! But that's just fine because under your wintermelon milktea with rock salt and cheese lies a free black pearl sinker.
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| Group Photo during the Opening. |
All in all, I would recommend Partea Partea to my friends and other milktea addicts! It's a go-to if you're looking for a new milktea taste in Davao and of course, a new milktea place! :-)
Must-Try's:
Lychee Tea with Strawberry Poppers
Wintermelon with RSC
Choco Milktea with Pudding
For more inquiries check out Partea Partea's Official Facebook Page.
Photo Credits:
Partea Partea Facebook Page
Pau of Tummy Tales
Keeping Travels on My Mind This Year!
I'm tired of just staying at home, never exploring, never seeing what's out there. Last year may have been full of travel-related surprises but I don't know if I'll get luckier this year. So, I prepared some list to track of 2013!
This year I wanted to travel my own way even if it means I'll have to be a budget traveler. I'm sure I can do it. I just need to prepare myself by reading lots of budget traveling tips and hone my backpacking skills which is at level 0 by the way. My mom still pack my things every time I travel but that may come in handy given my plans to have a vacation as early as end of January. Oh, I will be needing more income sources for that and my school too!
The past few weeks of 2013 has been stressful to me. I rarely go out and when I do my wallet vomits. So I think I'm gonna let it vomit one more time and this time for a vacation. That's it! I am gonna look up fantastic vacation deals on the Internet or persuade my bored friends to have a week-long vacation somewhere.
I love vacations! The last one I had was a long long time ago but it was more of an immersion (than vacation) in our own farm. I'd rather play farmville, I just don't wanna go back there. I'm hoping to visit Bukidnon again this year after our 2 Days trip slash long term planning last year. I hope I can call it a vacation this time around. I just want to relax, de-stress and stay away from the third world problems of the city!
It's going to be my first trip this year if ever!
And talking about travels, I'm gonna start working on my passport next week because I'll probably fly to Singapore this year. Probably. *crosses fingers* As for my local travels, nothing is certain but according to my list I want to explore more provinces in Mindanao. Like I said I hope to visit Bukidnon (again), climb Mt. Puting Bato (again) or Mt. Apo (ftw), go to Little Boracay on DFAT 2013, then join Soccksargen Experience Tour in September. I also want to visit Agusan Marsh!
And if I ever get the chance to fly to other provinces I'll have to avail more air fare promos for my highly ambitious Batanes, Palawan and Baguio plans. Oh, I just can't wait to travel this year and turn this boring personal blog into a blog full of adventures! But more than anything now I just want to take a break and have an awesome vacation!
This year I wanted to travel my own way even if it means I'll have to be a budget traveler. I'm sure I can do it. I just need to prepare myself by reading lots of budget traveling tips and hone my backpacking skills which is at level 0 by the way. My mom still pack my things every time I travel but that may come in handy given my plans to have a vacation as early as end of January. Oh, I will be needing more income sources for that and my school too!
The past few weeks of 2013 has been stressful to me. I rarely go out and when I do my wallet vomits. So I think I'm gonna let it vomit one more time and this time for a vacation. That's it! I am gonna look up fantastic vacation deals on the Internet or persuade my bored friends to have a week-long vacation somewhere.
I love vacations! The last one I had was a long long time ago but it was more of an immersion (than vacation) in our own farm. I'd rather play farmville, I just don't wanna go back there. I'm hoping to visit Bukidnon again this year after our 2 Days trip slash long term planning last year. I hope I can call it a vacation this time around. I just want to relax, de-stress and stay away from the third world problems of the city!
It's going to be my first trip this year if ever!
And talking about travels, I'm gonna start working on my passport next week because I'll probably fly to Singapore this year. Probably. *crosses fingers* As for my local travels, nothing is certain but according to my list I want to explore more provinces in Mindanao. Like I said I hope to visit Bukidnon (again), climb Mt. Puting Bato (again) or Mt. Apo (ftw), go to Little Boracay on DFAT 2013, then join Soccksargen Experience Tour in September. I also want to visit Agusan Marsh!
And if I ever get the chance to fly to other provinces I'll have to avail more air fare promos for my highly ambitious Batanes, Palawan and Baguio plans. Oh, I just can't wait to travel this year and turn this boring personal blog into a blog full of adventures! But more than anything now I just want to take a break and have an awesome vacation!
