HomeAsiaPhilippinesLuzonMetro ManilaFinally! Experiences at the Philippine Blog Awards 2009 – Awards Night By Marcos Detourist on October 29, 2009Now that my October travelling spree is over, I’m finally back home … back to blogging. You’ll probably notice my online activity rising because I’ve cleared up my schedule for the next month so that I can do some major work on my blogs (actually, it’s more like I wont be going anywhere because I’ve got no more money left to spend). During the first week of October, I spent a week in Manila to take some pictures for a new blog I’m developing. While I was there, I bought a one week MRT/LRT unlimited flash pass (for P250) and visited many spots in Metro Manila. Though, the highlight (and main agenda) of my trip was actually attending the 2009 Philippine Blog Awards, in which Explore Iloilo was nominated under the Best Travel Blog category.Mixing with the other bloggersThe 2009 Philippine Blog Awards was held last October 9, 2009 in PETA Theater, Makati. It’s a good thing that my trusty friend, Eric, offered to come with me to the event since I didn’t know how to get the venue (and I didn’t personally know any of the other bloggers). I had a print out of the location of PETA Theater from Google Maps, just in case. When we got there, Eric introduced me to some of the organizers and other bloggers. We made some quick visits to the booths of the sponsors and got a lot of freebies. The other bloggers were very friendly and approachable, which was great because I feeling like a newbie in their world when I came in the door. I was quite amazed at the variety of people there, I was amusing myself by guessing what topic or niche people there were blogging about just by looking at them.Eavesdropping on the InterviewsJust before the awards night started, some people were getting interviewed behind where I was seated. I could hear what they were discussing, and I was particularly attentive when the interviewer asked about the blogs nominated under the travel blog category. The interviewer was asking this blogger, what blog he thinks will win the award. The blogger replied a very safe answer, that he couldn’t decide because the nominees are all so deserving and stuff but mentioned a few particular blogs that stood out. The interviewer then became more specific by asking the blogger’s thoughts about the other nominees in the travel blog category, including Explore Iloilo. The blogger then said that although they are exceptional blogs, it’s an award for the Best Travel Blog, and for him, the winning blog should be able to feature travels on a wider scope (more places) and not just concentrated in his hometown.I didn’t mind it because I actually agree with his opinion. Technically, Explore Iloilo is qualified to be categorized as a travel blog but I don’t think it’s fit into winning an award for the best travel blog because it is, I dare say, handicapped in that category because it is only centered on one place and the style of writing is declarative rather than of a personal nature. I’m hoping that next year the organizers of the Philippine Blog Awards will include a Best Locale Blog Award, or something to that tune, as one of the main awards.The Philippine Blog Awards NightThe program proper was loads of fun. I was amazed at how big the blogging scene is in Manila and the level camaraderie between bloggers. It seems like a its community of its own, though you could make out bloggers in the same niche seated together and having their own sub-groups. When the award for the best travel blog was being announced, I was actually more excited seeing the text Explore Iloilo on the widescreen than the possibility of winning the award.I was rooting for Eric’s blog (Byahilo) to win because his blog has reached the widest audience and has been the most influential among the nominees. But of course these awards/judges have different ways of quantifying a winner for the Travel Blog Award. Langyaw – Sojourns and Off-the-Beaten Path Travels was named the winner that night for the Best Travel Blog Award. I’ve already been reading his blog and it is really cool because of his excellent pictures and more personal take on his travel blog.Going off so soonI had to leave before the awards night ended because I needed to go home at around 9pm for an early flight the next day. Before I left, I loaded up on the food bar first, hehe. I went home alone because Eric stayed to let the program finish. The PETA theater was far from the MRT/LRT stations so I had to take a jeepney home. It was my first time riding the jeepney in Manila at night during this particular trip. I made it a point to avoid it since I’ve heard that it is dangerous for newbie-looking people like me. I also did not want to take a taxi because of the unscrupulous reputation of taxi drivers in Manila preying over their passengers for the ride. I was resolved with the jeepney because they said it was only one ride to where I was staying but I was so nervous the whole time (especially when it passed by Sta. Cruz / Quiapo area). Lucky me was able to endure the whole thing without holes in my body.I was left with just a few hours to sleep for the early morning flight I mentioned about. At the time, me and my siblings had to go to NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) at around 3:30am for our next trip – three days and two nights in Hong Kong and Macau! Souvenirs from the 2009 Philippine Blog AwardsExplore Iloilo winning two awards in the Visayas leg of the Philippine Blog AwardsA week after the Philippine Blog Awards Night in Manila, the Visayas leg of the awards was held in Cebu City on October 18, 2009. Although, I wasn’t able to attend because I was at the time spending the week in Boracay, I got word from Sinjin and Bernie that Explore Iloilo won two awards: The Best Visayas Locale Blog and Globe Tatoo Awardee. I’m really ecstatic about that! and am grateful to everyone who have always been there to support me and Explore Iloilo.Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Off to Roxas City tomorrow for the Western Visayas Tourism…Ambot-ah wins “Best Travel Blog” at the 2010…Aliwan 2009 sa Manila – Witnessing the Festivals of…Back to Aliwan Fiesta 2010 plus two surprise trips in AprilStarting a New Blog MindmapLife Goes On!Comments eric saysOctober 29, 2009 at 10:58 pmahihihikitaay naman ta da sa dason!btw mapuli ko bcd nov4, ill be dropping by iloilo ;) chymera00 saysOctober 30, 2009 at 12:19 amhapit lang di eric ah, see you soon naman. Berniemack saysOctober 31, 2009 at 8:21 pm@Eric…madayon plano mo sa January? ;) Celebrar ka man birthday sa Iloilo ah…manlibre dayun, hehe! :D@Marc…will add u up lang sa blogroll ko regarding ur new blogs…ngita pa ko guihapon kon diin makabakal sang domain kag hosting… Hay, asta subong asta pa rin sa handumanan ang makapuli da sa Iloilo ah. :( chymera00 saysNovember 3, 2009 at 5:52 amthanks gd bernie … dira ko sa godaddy.com ga bakal domain kag ang host ara sa hostfortes.com … barato lng ^_^ Madayun man na Bernie kung san-o gd man, hehe. dodong flores saysNovember 4, 2009 at 12:08 pmCongratulations! Your Explore Iloilo site deserves to bag the Best Visayas Locale Blog award.I agree with you. Nex time, there should be a category for Best Locale Blog Award at the Philippine Blog Awards. chymera00 saysNovember 6, 2009 at 2:45 pmThanks guid nong. I’m really honored to receive and be recognized with the award. Berniemack saysNovember 9, 2009 at 1:57 pmDali lang…mapreparar na ta sa Dinagyang gali…as usual, S.O.P. pa ayhan sa media passes?Basi mapa-Kalibo man ko pero depende pa ina… Kag mangkot ko…oks lang bala ang Nikon D40? chymera00 saysNovember 9, 2009 at 6:00 pmwere already on it Bernie … requesting for media passes sa IFDI para sa Iloilo Bloggers. Hopefully, they will give us the passes. Kit-anay lang sa Kalibo eh … lagaw2x ta to ni Eric Dugay mo na bala ina guina pamangkot Bernie, while daan naguid technology sang D40. It’s still an excellent low-end SLR choice … I don’t think spending a few more thousand pesos for the D60 is worth it, so, better use the money na lang to buy additional equipment like flash, extra battery, remote shutter, lenses(a lens with longer range – 18-135mm [pareho kay eric], 18-105mm VR [pareho sa akon], 18-250mm VR, or 55-200mm ) etc… Berniemack saysNovember 12, 2009 at 11:48 amHuo…gapaniguro lang ko. :D Okiedokie ah. Tani indi na ta kabati sang ini: “blog, what blog? I don’t have time to read blogs….” nga rason. Dason a few months later, nagduro naman ang mga kawatay…hayay!Sige, hopefuly madayon ko pagpuli… chymera00 saysNovember 12, 2009 at 12:44 pmoo man, let’s see this Dinagyang kung may chansa pa mag bag-o mga tawu diri. hehe. Tani madayun ka guid man berns para lagaw2x naman kita tanan. aajao saysNovember 26, 2009 at 10:36 amit’s sad that you felt you don’t deserve to bag the award. once you’re nominated, you are qualified. and yeah, some bloggers can also get into politics so there, don’t be affected by them. ;)congratulations in winning 2 awards in the PBA-Visayas!keep on blogging!aajao :)btw, i came across your blog thru your freind request in Plurk. i’m not sure if i was able to accept it, though. LOL. chymera00 saysNovember 26, 2009 at 11:53 pmThanks aajao for dropping by aajao. Yeah .. well … I’m still very very very happy with the results. I hope you did add me on plurk, hehe. Lorenzo Monasterio saysMay 16, 2010 at 8:24 pmGreat weblog, very useful! If you want to get this out to a wider viewers I might suggest you attempt a press release. There are lots of free press release services accessible and I’m all the time completely satisfied to offer any recommendation on writing and production.Thanks http://www.bwrnews.co.uk Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
eric saysOctober 29, 2009 at 10:58 pmahihihikitaay naman ta da sa dason!btw mapuli ko bcd nov4, ill be dropping by iloilo ;)
Berniemack saysOctober 31, 2009 at 8:21 pm@Eric…madayon plano mo sa January? ;) Celebrar ka man birthday sa Iloilo ah…manlibre dayun, hehe! :D@Marc…will add u up lang sa blogroll ko regarding ur new blogs…ngita pa ko guihapon kon diin makabakal sang domain kag hosting… Hay, asta subong asta pa rin sa handumanan ang makapuli da sa Iloilo ah. :(
chymera00 saysNovember 3, 2009 at 5:52 amthanks gd bernie … dira ko sa godaddy.com ga bakal domain kag ang host ara sa hostfortes.com … barato lng ^_^ Madayun man na Bernie kung san-o gd man, hehe.
dodong flores saysNovember 4, 2009 at 12:08 pmCongratulations! Your Explore Iloilo site deserves to bag the Best Visayas Locale Blog award.I agree with you. Nex time, there should be a category for Best Locale Blog Award at the Philippine Blog Awards.
chymera00 saysNovember 6, 2009 at 2:45 pmThanks guid nong. I’m really honored to receive and be recognized with the award.
Berniemack saysNovember 9, 2009 at 1:57 pmDali lang…mapreparar na ta sa Dinagyang gali…as usual, S.O.P. pa ayhan sa media passes?Basi mapa-Kalibo man ko pero depende pa ina… Kag mangkot ko…oks lang bala ang Nikon D40?
chymera00 saysNovember 9, 2009 at 6:00 pmwere already on it Bernie … requesting for media passes sa IFDI para sa Iloilo Bloggers. Hopefully, they will give us the passes. Kit-anay lang sa Kalibo eh … lagaw2x ta to ni Eric Dugay mo na bala ina guina pamangkot Bernie, while daan naguid technology sang D40. It’s still an excellent low-end SLR choice … I don’t think spending a few more thousand pesos for the D60 is worth it, so, better use the money na lang to buy additional equipment like flash, extra battery, remote shutter, lenses(a lens with longer range – 18-135mm [pareho kay eric], 18-105mm VR [pareho sa akon], 18-250mm VR, or 55-200mm ) etc…
Berniemack saysNovember 12, 2009 at 11:48 amHuo…gapaniguro lang ko. :D Okiedokie ah. Tani indi na ta kabati sang ini: “blog, what blog? I don’t have time to read blogs….” nga rason. Dason a few months later, nagduro naman ang mga kawatay…hayay!Sige, hopefuly madayon ko pagpuli…
chymera00 saysNovember 12, 2009 at 12:44 pmoo man, let’s see this Dinagyang kung may chansa pa mag bag-o mga tawu diri. hehe. Tani madayun ka guid man berns para lagaw2x naman kita tanan.
aajao saysNovember 26, 2009 at 10:36 amit’s sad that you felt you don’t deserve to bag the award. once you’re nominated, you are qualified. and yeah, some bloggers can also get into politics so there, don’t be affected by them. ;)congratulations in winning 2 awards in the PBA-Visayas!keep on blogging!aajao :)btw, i came across your blog thru your freind request in Plurk. i’m not sure if i was able to accept it, though. LOL.
chymera00 saysNovember 26, 2009 at 11:53 pmThanks aajao for dropping by aajao. Yeah .. well … I’m still very very very happy with the results. I hope you did add me on plurk, hehe.
Lorenzo Monasterio saysMay 16, 2010 at 8:24 pmGreat weblog, very useful! If you want to get this out to a wider viewers I might suggest you attempt a press release. There are lots of free press release services accessible and I’m all the time completely satisfied to offer any recommendation on writing and production.Thanks http://www.bwrnews.co.uk