Featured Blog #21: FBW's featured blog is owned by a prize-winning blogger, online journalist, and educator. Winner of the Best Text Blog Award, consistently ranked #1 in the Top Blogs Philippines under the “politics and governance”, 5th most viewed WordPress blog worldwide for December 11, 2012 and 13th for November 18, 2013.
Blog Name: The Filipino Scribe by Mark Pere Madrona
Blog URL: www.FilipinoScribe.com
Category/Niche: News, Journalism, Politics
Blog description: TFS is generally a news, opinion, and general information blog. As much as possible, I try to do my best to give a fresh take on what I write about. For example, when writing about national and local holidays, I also do some research about the history of that occasion.
I’m proud that TFS shows my persistent interest in history, politics, and social media. It has received over 2,200,000 page views already from readers in the Philippines and overseas.
About yourself:
I have a page on my blog dedicated to this. Haha. Anyway, aside from blogging, I also teach at the tertiary level (Technological Institute of the Philippines). I am engaged too in news and feature writing for Yahoo News Philippines.
I have a journalism degree from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, where I’m currently enrolled in a graduate program for history. I also accept speaking engagements every now and then. (Shameless plugging: I’m ready to accept invitations for 2014! LOL)
How did you get into blogging?
WordPress blog, which now has its own domain, has been around since March 2011 but I purchased my own domain only last May. I’ve been engaged in blogging years before that through Multiply.com.
As an opinionated and talkative person, I always have a lot to say about the things around me. So at first, the blog is just all about self-expression. It still is up to now, though I have a much bigger audience already.
What is your biggest struggle as a blogger?
Finding the time to keep your blog constantly updated is a major challenge, especially since like other bloggers, I have a full time job as well. Aside from that, I have graduate school responsibilities too. The nature of my blog plus the fact that I have lots of readers adds to the need for The Filipino Scribe to have fresh content.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
My favourite among the over 500 blog posts I’ve made so far is titled “Is Charice Pempengco lesbian? And so?” I posted it in March 2012, and it’s my third most viewed blog. That’s when the rumors about her sexuality first came about (she only came out this year).
It encapsulates what I think about the issue of coming out and being in terms with your sexuality. That’s one thing I’m really interested about.
Where do you see your blog(s) and yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I think I will more or less stay on the same career path - teaching while occasionally writing. I hope by then I’m already enrolled on a doctorate program, preferably overseas.
I want to see my blog have a wider reach, preferably with the help of contributors. The website needs to have a better look (attention, web developers!). Hopefully, it will be self-hosted soon so I can maximize its earning potential. I’m excited to see how my blog can take part in educating the public for the 2016 elections.
How does blogging help you, in terms of life and career?
When I started TFS in 2011, I just want to rekindle my passion for writing. Two years after, blogging has already opened up so many opportunities for me. Getting recognition and compliments from people I don’t really know in the process are big bonuses.
I’m also grateful that because of my blog, I’ve had opportunities to share what I know to others. Now that what I write can be read by many people around the world, I always keep that in mind before posting anything.
I began running WordAds shortly after I upgraded my blog. The earnings made me feel a little better off during this Christmas season. Haha.
Advice/tip you can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
They say there are already many bloggers out there. While this may be true, it is still possible to succeed and stand out. You can do so either by offering something new or by doing something differently. You can do this by making your blogs more insightful or more informative compared to the rest.
You can join blog communities like Filipino Bloggers Worldwide and others out there. Interacting with other bloggers will help you a lot. In joining these groups, taking part in comment and link exchanges are inevitable. Keeping your word is a must. Learning some tips on search engine optimization won’t hurt, too.
Another note: please be open to feedback. I’m not only talking about the need to have a comment section in your blog. Be as engaging as possible to your readers. Accept mistakes but learn to ignore the trolls.
For correspondence, email me at markpere2010@gmail.com or follow me at www.Twitter.com/FilipinoScribe
Featured Blog #20: Our featured blog needs no introduction. All we can say is, you don't always see three thousand plus comments in a blog post. If you are looking for the hottest, controversial and most entertaining posts, make sure to visit SWN and be one of the readers who gets carried away with heated arguments among commentators.
Blog Name : So, What's News?
Niche : humor/satire (niche talaga )
Blog description: “So, What’s News’ news are news that won’t make you depressed to read the news”.
SWN, is a satirical & fictional news website. Our aim is to inject humor into everyday news to provide respite to readers who have grown weary with mainstream news organization’s partisan, biased and depressing way of presenting the news.
News on this website should not be taken seriously and to be taken with a grain of salt.
About the blogger/Tell us something random about yourself.
I am Stewart, the 31-year-old guy behind SWN. My goal on this blog is actually to spread laughter/humor via putting twists into everyday news, that would hopefully spark conversations and debates. I try to make each post unique and funny but with the understanding that I cannot please everybody. Some may not be into satire while some may dig the humor.
What’s the inspiration behind your blog and how long has it been around?
The inspiration behind my blog is similar to a Humor/Satire blog in the US called The Onion. I would literally laugh while reading articles from their site.
At first they were free, but nowadays, they sadly charge subscription fees for the readers.
I believe that laughter is to be shared to everyone and should be free. This is actually my drive to keep doing what I do. I do not earn from my blog, but the comments from readers telling me that they are laughing finding it funny, as well as sharing them is rewarding enough for me.
SWN was started last September 2011.
How did you get into blogging:
I started blogging during the Geocities-era with a blog called WTF-online. I cannot remember what was covered there already and since its closure, I moved to Blogger and then to Multiply. I wrote anything that was on my mind on those blogs, but on the Multiply side, mostly my dates with my then girlfriend who is now my wife.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
I guess my most favorite was my first post that went viral: "After Anti-Planking, Lawmaker Proposes Anti-Angry Birds Bill."
It made me realize the power of social networking in trying to spread a message. It also taught me to keep on writing for the blog to reach a much broader audience. That is why I try to cover enough topics, be it politics, gadgets, entertainment or sports, but of course injected with humor.
What have you learned from writing in SWN:
This is actually a comment from one of my readers, but it perfectly encapsulates my sentiments: "Satire is a strange thing. We don’t always get it. That’s why we should read it more often. "
Thanks for featuring me on Filipino Bloggers Worldwide. Mabuhay ang Pinoy!
Featured Blog #19: Our featured blog, The Chronicles of Love Mindanao is the FBW Top Travel Blog of 2012, beating out 42 other nominees. Every blog post is a great way to share the author's travel experiences and inspiring images to his readers. The pictures alone are worth more than a thousand words, while the story behind the pictures are just as fascinating to the readers. Let us learn more about the author of the Love Mindanao who inspires more people to travel not only to Mindanao but around the Philippines as well.
Blog Name: The Chronicles of Love Mindanao
Niche: Travel Blog
Blog Description: The blog site started as a personal advocacy to overturn the general public’s negative impression about Mindanao by promoting its rarely seen and unsung paradise hidden in the most deprived Christian and Muslim communities in the Philippines.
About the blogger/Tell us something random about yourself.
I hate the limelight the same way I hate sitaw (string beans). I turned down several offers to work abroad and decided to put my degree in practice as environmental specialist in Mindanao and ended up very very poor. I love the perceived ugliest living creatures either plants or animals. Keeping in touch with wild birds and snakes and any carnivorous plants seen in the forest keeps me alive. A beach lover, but never lasts in the water for more than five minutes.
How did he get into blogging?
I was so lonely working in the most secluded community with the most beautiful preserved natural environment in Surigao del Sur. There are no other means of entertainment other than rowing a boat to the river and singing in a cheap videoke bar. So, with nothing much to do, I hit the net and activated my blogger account and started sharing my unique travel experiences purposely as an advocacy for uplifting the negative impression about Mindanao.
What do you find to be your biggest struggle as a blogger?
Communication. It sounded so odd, but, I am really having a hard time to convey what I really wanted to tell to my readers. Since my blog is a form of an advocacy, I wanted to make them feel what I actually felt in a particular place, people or culture I am featuring. I am not a professional writer and the only reason I am able to write is when I am deeply inspired emotionally and things just flow naturally.
What is the inspiration behind his blog and how long has it been around?
It started just last June 2012 when I got myself hooked into sharing my travel experiences through blog. But what really inspired me to write was when I saw the Manobo Children of Inadan of San Miguel Surigao del Sur, who live in the most serene and beautiful mountain place, but left with little hope to finish their education due to extreme poverty. It was an ironic situation that the place is rich with beautiful natural resources yet the community dwells deep into poverty. And with nothing else to do during that night I wrote everything I can remember especially my encounters with the indigenous community, hoping someone would pick it up and start to trigger a fire of hope for these people.
What is his favorite blog post and why?
So far, my favorite blog post would be my Tawi Tawi Series. It changed everything about my perception about our Muslim brothers and sisters and the whole ARMM and the freedom they are fighting for. Learning it first hand with the people of Tawi Tawi is far different from what is being shown in the media. I have seen the truth, the sincerity and hospitality of the original dwellers of Mindanao. My jaunt in this part of the country is a ‘nirvana’ to which I could really vouch for all Filipinos that just like anybody else, the people of Mindanao only seek peace and want to live in prosperity. For me it is the happiest place where I experienced true freedom away from the norms of our current society. I could just walk on the roads of almost 100% friendly Muslim populated barangays and some are even “kikay”. I can even wander alone in the farthest country side and run and lie down in their deserted airport’s airstrip- unharmed!
Where do you see your blog(s) and yourself in 5 years?
I am not aiming my blog to become a household name in the future but hoping it serves as a reference and triggers our fellow Filipinos and even the outsiders to extend their assistance to our brothers and sisters in Mindanao instead of avoiding them. I just hope that my message be received by everyone about the unspoken truth. It maybe not in my lifetime but still my hope flares high that my advocacy will have its fruit in due time.
I’d like to set this blog as an inspiration, saying that I can do more and be a productive citizen of my country. So, if I can do blogging and it inspires others, it means I can also do other things beyond my limitation in the coming years. We just have to wait and see what the future have prepared for us.
How does blogging help you, in terms of life and career?
Financially, I am not going to depend on it. But this platform introduced me to a wider audience that enhanced my personality to be more open. Blogging is like a diesel fuel which slowly triggers to develop my personality positively and continues pushing me off to my limits. I have now a wider audience that connects to my passion and giving more inspiration to continue on what I am doing right now. Blogging may have brought me a checkered life and career but at least I don’t adhere to the expensive norms of our society. Carpe diem!
Advice/tip you can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
Blogging involves writing and I would like to quote “Professional writers are amateurs that never quit!”- by anonymous. Consider this platform as a medium to share your aspiration in life and not merely a source of additional income. Write passionately and accept criticisms. Seek the advice of the seniors and always remember to connect to the heart of your readers and never fail to thank them as well. They are the bloodline of your blog’s existence.
thank you.
And don't forget to nominate our featured blog here Tatt Awards 2013
Blog Description: The blog site started as a personal advocacy to overturn the general public’s negative impression about Mindanao by promoting its rarely seen and unsung paradise hidden in the most deprived Christian and Muslim communities in the Philippines.
About the blogger/Tell us something random about yourself.
I hate the limelight the same way I hate sitaw (string beans). I turned down several offers to work abroad and decided to put my degree in practice as environmental specialist in Mindanao and ended up very very poor. I love the perceived ugliest living creatures either plants or animals. Keeping in touch with wild birds and snakes and any carnivorous plants seen in the forest keeps me alive. A beach lover, but never lasts in the water for more than five minutes.
How did he get into blogging?
I was so lonely working in the most secluded community with the most beautiful preserved natural environment in Surigao del Sur. There are no other means of entertainment other than rowing a boat to the river and singing in a cheap videoke bar. So, with nothing much to do, I hit the net and activated my blogger account and started sharing my unique travel experiences purposely as an advocacy for uplifting the negative impression about Mindanao.
What do you find to be your biggest struggle as a blogger?
Communication. It sounded so odd, but, I am really having a hard time to convey what I really wanted to tell to my readers. Since my blog is a form of an advocacy, I wanted to make them feel what I actually felt in a particular place, people or culture I am featuring. I am not a professional writer and the only reason I am able to write is when I am deeply inspired emotionally and things just flow naturally.
What is the inspiration behind his blog and how long has it been around?
It started just last June 2012 when I got myself hooked into sharing my travel experiences through blog. But what really inspired me to write was when I saw the Manobo Children of Inadan of San Miguel Surigao del Sur, who live in the most serene and beautiful mountain place, but left with little hope to finish their education due to extreme poverty. It was an ironic situation that the place is rich with beautiful natural resources yet the community dwells deep into poverty. And with nothing else to do during that night I wrote everything I can remember especially my encounters with the indigenous community, hoping someone would pick it up and start to trigger a fire of hope for these people.
What is his favorite blog post and why?
So far, my favorite blog post would be my Tawi Tawi Series. It changed everything about my perception about our Muslim brothers and sisters and the whole ARMM and the freedom they are fighting for. Learning it first hand with the people of Tawi Tawi is far different from what is being shown in the media. I have seen the truth, the sincerity and hospitality of the original dwellers of Mindanao. My jaunt in this part of the country is a ‘nirvana’ to which I could really vouch for all Filipinos that just like anybody else, the people of Mindanao only seek peace and want to live in prosperity. For me it is the happiest place where I experienced true freedom away from the norms of our current society. I could just walk on the roads of almost 100% friendly Muslim populated barangays and some are even “kikay”. I can even wander alone in the farthest country side and run and lie down in their deserted airport’s airstrip- unharmed!
Where do you see your blog(s) and yourself in 5 years?
I am not aiming my blog to become a household name in the future but hoping it serves as a reference and triggers our fellow Filipinos and even the outsiders to extend their assistance to our brothers and sisters in Mindanao instead of avoiding them. I just hope that my message be received by everyone about the unspoken truth. It maybe not in my lifetime but still my hope flares high that my advocacy will have its fruit in due time.
I’d like to set this blog as an inspiration, saying that I can do more and be a productive citizen of my country. So, if I can do blogging and it inspires others, it means I can also do other things beyond my limitation in the coming years. We just have to wait and see what the future have prepared for us.
How does blogging help you, in terms of life and career?
Financially, I am not going to depend on it. But this platform introduced me to a wider audience that enhanced my personality to be more open. Blogging is like a diesel fuel which slowly triggers to develop my personality positively and continues pushing me off to my limits. I have now a wider audience that connects to my passion and giving more inspiration to continue on what I am doing right now. Blogging may have brought me a checkered life and career but at least I don’t adhere to the expensive norms of our society. Carpe diem!
Advice/tip you can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
Blogging involves writing and I would like to quote “Professional writers are amateurs that never quit!”- by anonymous. Consider this platform as a medium to share your aspiration in life and not merely a source of additional income. Write passionately and accept criticisms. Seek the advice of the seniors and always remember to connect to the heart of your readers and never fail to thank them as well. They are the bloodline of your blog’s existence.
thank you.
And don't forget to nominate our featured blog here Tatt Awards 2013
SITE NAME: http://www.lovemindanao.com/
SITE URL: http://www.lovemindanao.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chroniclesoflovemindanao
SITE URL: http://www.lovemindanao.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/chroniclesoflovemindanao
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lovemindanao
CATEGORY: Best Travel or Food Blog
TELL US WHY: (write with your own words)
CATEGORY: Best Travel or Food Blog
TELL US WHY: (write with your own words)
Featured Blog #18. I am so proud to present to you the FBW's featured blog. At last, Papaleng and his Amazing Animals, agreed to be featured here.
Blog Name: Amazing Animals
Niche: General
Blog Description: Some surprising, amazing and interesting animal facts!
About the blogger: Just a funny man who simply loves poetry and Nature.
How did he get into blogging?
Endangered Species of Butterflies. It is the first article that got a 5-Star rating at Stumble. Also, the first viral article I have. As of this writing , it still gets decent traffic and was viewed by more than 100,000 internet users.
Where do you see your blog(s) years from now?
Blog Name: Amazing Animals
Niche: General
Blog Description: Some surprising, amazing and interesting animal facts!
About the blogger: Just a funny man who simply loves poetry and Nature.
How did he get into blogging?
I started as an article writer in some paid writing sites. A dear Triond friend suggested that I create a blog and post my published articles there. It's just like 'hitting 2 birds with a single stone' -- a published post earns both from Triond and my blog.
What do you think is your biggest struggle as a blogger?
What do you think is your biggest struggle as a blogger?
I know little about the so-called SEO things.
What is the inspiration behind her blog and how long has it been around?
What is the inspiration behind her blog and how long has it been around?
It was May 23, 2011 when I posted my first My first Amazing Animal article. Inspiration? I see God's greatness by simply watching those animals. Every single breed is so unique eh.
What is his favorite blog post and why?
What is his favorite blog post and why?
Where do you see your blog(s) years from now?
That, I can't tell, but the sure thing is, my articles caters to students and education is forever.
How does blogging help you financially and career wise?
How does blogging help you financially and career wise?
Not that much in the financial aspect, since foremost I write for passion lang. Career? Perhaps pogi points on my writing portfolio. Also, I am a certified online celebrity na. Just kidding.
Advice/tip you can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
Advice/tip you can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
- Write on things you know much.
- Write quality and original posts. No spin articles.
- Always set writing goals. Be it a post a month or 20 posts a day. It doesn't matter.
- If you are writing for 'bucks sake', be diligent enough promoting your stuffs. Join social forums and be an active members.
- Always ... give a helping hand to your fellow writers and bloggers.
Featured Blog #17 Tristan is the owner of TRIZZONE, his portfolio website and blog. He also works at oDesk and at Elance. Feel free to contact him to promote your online and social media presence, WordPress management, making creative presentations, managing tools and programs you use for your business. He never fails to amaze us with his willingness to help everyone without second thought or hesitation.
Blog Name: TristanKhalil.com
Category/Niche: freelancing, social media, SEO
Blog Description: Your Virtual Assistant and SEO Professional for Hire! TristanKhalil.com is also a blog about the latest updates on the digital world... from social media, Facebook, hippest gadgets, awesome photos, cool websites and more!
About the blogger.
Blog Name: TristanKhalil.com
Category/Niche: freelancing, social media, SEO
Blog Description: Your Virtual Assistant and SEO Professional for Hire! TristanKhalil.com is also a blog about the latest updates on the digital world... from social media, Facebook, hippest gadgets, awesome photos, cool websites and more!
About the blogger.
I am an online freelancer who loves to share in my blog, anything that is related to freelancing, work at home, social media and SEO. I am also an avid online gamer, anime and manga lover, and an amateur photographer.
What’s the inspiration behind your blog and how long has it been around?
What’s the inspiration behind your blog and how long has it been around?
I started blogging way back when there's still Friendster.com just as a hobby. Then later on, I decided to blog more for the sake of sharing what I've read from the forums and other blogs, and I blog just about anything. It was just last year, when I started freelancing that I found my dedication. From all that I learned in my online social media course, to the interactions I had with other freelancers, bloggers, social media managers and seo professionals. Then a friend helped me get a domain and hosting, and so, TristanKhalil.com was re-created.
How did you get into blogging?
How did you get into blogging?
Like I said in the previous question above, I started blogging during the Friendster.com era. Sharing my school experiences, facts found in the forum and just about anything that I can think of. It was just last year that I really focused on a niche.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
What is your favorite blog post and why?
I can say that my favorite blog post is the one I blog about MORCON 2011. It's because it was the very first conference I joined that I met my virtual friends, mentors, as well as new faces from the SEO, Social Media and Blogging communities. You can read about the said conference here: http://tristankhalil.com/2011/11/roundups-on-mastering-online-ranking-conference-morcon-2011/
Featured Blog #16 I hope I made the right decision for featuring Edmar's site in FBW. Seriously, the site is one of the best Travel blog in the Philippines, very informative and entertaining.
Blog Name: EDMARATION #TownExplorer
Niche: Travel
Blog Description: EDMARATION #TownExplorer is a motorcycle adventure travel blog of a practicing Pinoy Nurse in the Philippines who calls himself as "The 1 Day Town Explorer" exploring towns with his motorbike usually within 1 day.
The blog aims to explore all the towns in the Philippines by using a motorbike particularly (or any other means) and make a blog post to every town visited. This blog is set to feature 1-day itineraries to every town so that readers will have an idea on how to explore a town in 1 day especially for those travelers who only have limited time to travel like him.
About the blogger:
Edmar is a 24-year-old practicing nurse by profession, an off-road motorbike rider, adrenaline junkie, geography-freak, God-fearing, Editor-in-Chief of company newsletter, a band vocalist, music lover, plays the guitar and keyboard, certified Kapamilya, the eldest of three handsome hunkie boys (LOL) and an aspiring lawyer (a certified lawstude). But since studying law at night and working as a nurse at daytime has ruined his outdoor-ish lifestyle, he has chosen his priorities ending up his journey at the law school (temporarily). After several semesters at the law school giving him more free time and setting aside reading all those thick books of the law and jurisprudence, he started his travel blog where he documented all his travel experiences. He used his free time wisely for traveling and blogging. Traveling is his first love so it is his priority because it makes him feel contented and satisfied in traveling while blogging is his outlet making him feel less stressed. Edmar works 8 hours a day, 6 days a week with 1 day off a week but he can still manage to blog and travel at the same time.
How did he get into blogging:
I started blogging because of my love of talking. I am shy-type, a bit melodramatic but once I get my momentum, plus a topic I love most, I talk a lot. Because I hardly get a time to talk about the things that I love due to the reason that I can't seem to find a person with the same species like me who would listen and interact with me, I started my blog to unleash all the semi-overflowing ideas in my mind. This blog started as personal blog of anything under the sun until I decided to make it purely about travel and lately I also made my own food blog, entertainment blog and motorcycling blog.
What is your inspiration behind your blog and how long it is around? My inspiration in blogging would be the beauty, amazing culture and exciting destinations in the Philippines. There are a lot of them to see and putting up a travel blog to document them would be the best way I know to promote them. Edmaration.com was born on February 27, 2011 out of scratch.
What is his favorite blog post and why?
My favorite post is a post about the Karbo Festival of Vigan, which has been noticed lately making me appear into a book. http://www.edmaration.com/2012/08/pasagad-dressing-carabao-painting.html,
Advice/tip you can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
I have a lot of advice and tips. Blogging is not only confined about "passion" because that is the first thing you should have when you want a blog, meaning, that should be given for a blogger. Aside from passion that has been given as a "cliche" reason when someone asks how to succeed in blogging, there are a lot of things a blogger must do to succeed and I am particular about the branding and technicalities.
1. Be a reader: (I am giving all these pieces of advice as a 'reader' and not a blogger.) I read many blogs a lot, and we also need to be a reader at times, not purely be a blogger. Being a reader will make you learn a lot and to compare which is better. So when I blog hop, I can see that this one is better, or that one is more helpful wherein I may also apply to my blog. So for the following pieces of advice, I will be sharing my advice as a blog reader and not as a blogger per se.
1. Don't be hypocrite: Be true to yourself: Don't appear as if you don't want to be famous or to earn via blogging (unless you really don't want it, which I doubt :p). There is nothing wrong about that! One thing that could be bad is that when you are pretending as if you don't want to be famous or to become financally able via blogging. Your readers will love you for being true to yourself but please don't blog as if you are famous or rich all the time, duh. So where is the passion for that matter? I told you passion should be given and must be constant if not accelerating.
2. Create branding: Branding is important. Your brand is like your name. Offer something that will make your blog unique. Think of something that will make your blog be remembered. Like for example, a food blogger that goes to restaurant with a cat, a travel blogger that is focused about low-rise mountains, a mom-blogger that travels with kids without her hubby or anything that will make your blog unique. It pays to be creative and unique. Don't say you don't need branding, in the long run you will need it. Although you might succeed by becoming generic, just think about the success of Colgate, Coke, Pampers and Payless. They all have a brand and they just don't simply market themselves as toothpaste,softdrinks, diaper, and instant noodles, they market for their brands.
3. Give readers a reason to like you, don't force or ask them to like you. Sometimes this is a challenge. Forcing or asking others to read your blog by sending them your links via PM or any other means like tagging them in your facebook all the time you have a new post or mentioning them in twitter all the time without being asked to do it could make you appear frustrated in gaining traffic and readers. Although it is not really bad to do it, but doing it everytime you post a new article could be annoying. Calm down, do it when it is really "needed." Doing it all the time can annoy your readers or friends. So how can they like you for that? Just blog quality posts and in the long run, readers will chase after your blog.
4. Be friendly and humble: Don't act as if you are better with this blogger or that blogger. The thing is, we have different niches, different type of audience, etc. Blogging is a community and the more you become friendly and humble, the more people will love you. The more friends you have, the better.
Featured Blog #15. One of the best travel and photography blog owned by a well traveled young lady who writes about her adventures from Asia, Middle East and Europe.
Category/Niche: Travel, Photography, Lifestyle
Blog description: My blog is my diary of personal experiences and my travel tales through my pictures. I am presently celebrating my blog’s 100,000 page views, even until now it still amazes me to know that people are visiting my blog. There is something about this blog that lures people to come back and I know it’s not my words but my pictures. So I will continue feeding their fantasy through my photos.
About the blogger:
I am a CPA by profession. I’ve never been a writer but I love photography so even until now with my blogging gig, I still don’t consider myself a writer. I have a day job 8 hours a day, 6 days a week , I run an online shop (http://homefashionshoppe.multiply.com/), I contribute articles at DigitalSpidey.com, I blog when I can, travel when I have the time, I’m a proud home owner, and the most rewarding of all, I’m a daughter/sister/auntie/girlfriend/friend 24/7.
What is the inspiration behind her blog and how long has it been around?
My blog is almost 9 months old. Few weeks of blogging and I got a good review from a foreign blogger saying that I am a “well-traveled and excellent photographer “and gave me my first backlink too. It inspired me so much to continue with my blogging.
How did she get into blogging?
Blogging is an alien world to me actually. My passion for photography and travel has started as a personal thing not to be shared outside my circle of friends and acquaintances. One time I traveled to Boracay for my bday celebration last year and I met a very inspiring lady. We spent time together and I told her about my travels and places I’ve been to and she asked me how come I’m not blogging and I told her that it’s not my thing. We went out sailing one day and we had a near death experience, I had barter with God that if I survived that ordeal I will blog, so here I am... blogging!
What is her favorite blog post and why?
It would be my “Dream Big and Make it Happen” post, for someone as private as me who does not have writing skills, writing something about myself and my beginnings has not been an easy task. I was expecting “negative” comments but instead I got “thank you’s”. Even until now I am humbled to get emails and comments of thank you’s for inspiring people. It is more rewarding for me than the good comments I’m getting for my photos.
Advice/tip she can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
Blog to share your passion and everything will follow. Fulfillment in doing something does not come with financial gains alone, but the rewards of someone appreciating what you are doing and being inspired by your work. So take a deep breath and show the world what you got and wait.. just wait and you will be rewarded with more than what you have imagined. Goodluck!
Blog description: My blog is my diary of personal experiences and my travel tales through my pictures. I am presently celebrating my blog’s 100,000 page views, even until now it still amazes me to know that people are visiting my blog. There is something about this blog that lures people to come back and I know it’s not my words but my pictures. So I will continue feeding their fantasy through my photos.
About the blogger:
I am a CPA by profession. I’ve never been a writer but I love photography so even until now with my blogging gig, I still don’t consider myself a writer. I have a day job 8 hours a day, 6 days a week , I run an online shop (http://homefashionshoppe.multiply.com/), I contribute articles at DigitalSpidey.com, I blog when I can, travel when I have the time, I’m a proud home owner, and the most rewarding of all, I’m a daughter/sister/auntie/girlfriend/friend 24/7.
What is the inspiration behind her blog and how long has it been around?
My blog is almost 9 months old. Few weeks of blogging and I got a good review from a foreign blogger saying that I am a “well-traveled and excellent photographer “and gave me my first backlink too. It inspired me so much to continue with my blogging.
How did she get into blogging?
Blogging is an alien world to me actually. My passion for photography and travel has started as a personal thing not to be shared outside my circle of friends and acquaintances. One time I traveled to Boracay for my bday celebration last year and I met a very inspiring lady. We spent time together and I told her about my travels and places I’ve been to and she asked me how come I’m not blogging and I told her that it’s not my thing. We went out sailing one day and we had a near death experience, I had barter with God that if I survived that ordeal I will blog, so here I am... blogging!
What is her favorite blog post and why?
It would be my “Dream Big and Make it Happen” post, for someone as private as me who does not have writing skills, writing something about myself and my beginnings has not been an easy task. I was expecting “negative” comments but instead I got “thank you’s”. Even until now I am humbled to get emails and comments of thank you’s for inspiring people. It is more rewarding for me than the good comments I’m getting for my photos.
Advice/tip she can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
Blog to share your passion and everything will follow. Fulfillment in doing something does not come with financial gains alone, but the rewards of someone appreciating what you are doing and being inspired by your work. So take a deep breath and show the world what you got and wait.. just wait and you will be rewarded with more than what you have imagined. Goodluck!
Featured Blog #14. When it comes to restaurant and food review, nothing beats Purple Doll. The blog posts are all well written by Sumi Go, a 21 year old writer and photographer.
Category/Niche: Food
Blog description: The Purple Doll is a personal-turned-food blog detailing the doll's food adventures as she explores Metro Manila’s restaurants, buffets, cafés and even food stalls. It houses not just informative and entertaining food reviews, but also a treat for the hungry eyes.
Initially though, The Purple Doll was an online creative outlet for Sumi's photography, writing itch and random ramblings. But amidst her scattered thoughts, the foodie in her prevailed, making The Purple Doll what it is today.
About the blogger:
Sumi is a jack of all trades, or so she believes. She loves to write, a passion which she discovered when she joined the school publication back in elementary. She also has a strong interest in photography, as well as in web and graphic design.
Prior to her blogging days, Sumi enjoyed cosplaying, as well as singing Japanese and Korean songs on Youtube.
What is the inspiration behind her blog and how long has it been around?
The Purple Doll has been in the cyberspace for barely 10 months. From the blog name, you can already infer that Sumi wanted it to become her online diary and creative outlet.
How did you she into blogging?
While waiting for her graduation back in October 2011, Sumi started The Purple Doll blog to pass the time. Little did she know that she'll grow attached to the wonders of blogging and will continue to do it even while working.
What is her favorite blog post and why?
Sumi makes an effort to always put her best in every post that she publishes. And with a continuously growing number of restaurant reviews, it's hard to choose one which she deems to stand out.
However if she really has to choose, it'd be Intramuros: Reliving Stories of the Walled City, Sumi's travel write-up entry for the Intramuros Bloggers Challenge 2012 and a post which won her the photography challenge from the same competition.
Advice/tip she can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
I may be a newbie to the blogsphere, but I'd like to remind my fellow bloggers to keep the flame alive. If you have the passion, nurture it and you'd not only be successful but will also continuously be happy with blogging. Of course, make sure to stay personable and never ever step on someone's toes.
Featured Blog #13 What makes this travel blog unique and different from all other travel blogs in the Philippines is its being Nationalistic. Nanardxz, created the blog not only for his love to his beloved home province but also to help his fellow Filipinos to know that South Cotabato is rich with Cultural Heritage, has lots of fantastic tourist attractions to offer and is one of the best place to live in the Philippines. Happy Birthday Nanardxz!
Blog Name: SouthCotabato.Org
Category/Niche: Travel/News
Blog description: Everything you need to know about South Cotabato, the latest happenings and events, updates on latest developments and more.
About the blogger:
I am Nanardxz, a proud South Cotabateño, a college undergraduate who took up Nursing. I usually go online every 5 hours everyday because I am into online jobs aside from blogging. I love South Cotabato, and that's what I am writing about.
What is the inspiration behind his blog and how long has it been around?
The lack of positive posts about South Cotabato online way back 2010, our numerous local tourist attractions and the people of South Cotabato, they are my inspirations why I continue blogging. Posting about positive things in the province and getting positive responses from my kababayans motivates me and makes me love what I am doing.
How did he get into blogging?
Way back 2010, I created South Cotabato Tambayan, a social networking site using the NING platform, it was a hit that many of my fellow South Cotabateños have joined especially from abroad.Most of them were OFW's, they started asking me for updates of what is happening around the province, news, etc., and from then on, I begun posting updates, photos and stuffs. I then created a site on blogspot, South Cotabato News and still using it up to now. I want my fellow South Cotabateños to be informed and to help in the promotion of our beautiful province, there are lots of positive things that still needs to be posted online about South Cotabato.
What is his favorite blog post and why?
My favorite blog post so far is my list of 10 Things to do in South Cotabato. Through that post I was able once again let the whole world wide web knew that South Cotabato has a lot of things to offer them when they came for a visit.
Category/Niche: Travel/News
Blog description: Everything you need to know about South Cotabato, the latest happenings and events, updates on latest developments and more.
About the blogger:
I am Nanardxz, a proud South Cotabateño, a college undergraduate who took up Nursing. I usually go online every 5 hours everyday because I am into online jobs aside from blogging. I love South Cotabato, and that's what I am writing about.
What is the inspiration behind his blog and how long has it been around?
The lack of positive posts about South Cotabato online way back 2010, our numerous local tourist attractions and the people of South Cotabato, they are my inspirations why I continue blogging. Posting about positive things in the province and getting positive responses from my kababayans motivates me and makes me love what I am doing.
How did he get into blogging?
Way back 2010, I created South Cotabato Tambayan, a social networking site using the NING platform, it was a hit that many of my fellow South Cotabateños have joined especially from abroad.Most of them were OFW's, they started asking me for updates of what is happening around the province, news, etc., and from then on, I begun posting updates, photos and stuffs. I then created a site on blogspot, South Cotabato News and still using it up to now. I want my fellow South Cotabateños to be informed and to help in the promotion of our beautiful province, there are lots of positive things that still needs to be posted online about South Cotabato.
What is his favorite blog post and why?
My favorite blog post so far is my list of 10 Things to do in South Cotabato. Through that post I was able once again let the whole world wide web knew that South Cotabato has a lot of things to offer them when they came for a visit.
Featured Blog #12 November, 2011 when FBW started, Sir Gil was one of the first bloggers who was invited to join the group. The group member came to know him not only as a blogger but A Man of Dignity and Honor.
Blog Name : Gil Camporazo's RandomThoughts
Category/Niche : General, Mixed Blog
Blog description : Random thoughts on lifestyles, news and commentaries on various topics, worth-emulating works and of general interests.
RandomThoughts! is a mixed blog which came to being in 3 February 2011. I blogged about beliefs, family, education, news of general interest, lifestyles, personal experiences which are worth emulating, among others.
About the blogger:
I'm a simple and reserved type of a person; a writer, journalist, and a blogger; frustrated songwriter and a composer; caring, loving father of 6; by profession, had been a banker, a classroom teacher, and now a public school principal.
What’s the inspiration behind your blog and how long has it been around?
Inspirational thoughts and ideas on family, education, school administration, church callings. It started sometime in February 2011. So, it already 1 year and 5 months in this July 2012.
How did you get into blogging?
My desire to write and start a blog was a challenge of my writing skills when Negros Bloggers President H. James Toga added me to Negros Bloggers closed group in Facebook, wherein good writers, good bloggers chatted regularly, especially at night. Every time I opened my computer to browse the Internet I directly signed in to my Facebook account and visited NB Page. There I saw several links of their blogs, which out of my curiosity, I read them all. Until I became get well acquainted with the members of NB and befriended with them. And I sensed my belongingness with this group which is composed of students, government employees, freelance writers, businessmen, realtors, legal luminaries, news reporters who were the pioneers of NB as the core group.
As I regularly followed up their blogs, I said to myself, "This is a challenge of my writing prowess to start a blog of my own. But of course not to compete with them for they'd different fields of expertise and mine is different too. Therefore, doing what I could muster to start a blog is the answer. I started with a unique title, RandomThoughts! not knowing that there are several similar blogs with that same title. Well, I started writing with a controlled contents of various topics which I believe could get the interest of my readers. And it did. For a matter of less than a year, RandomThoughts received the award as The Best Lifestyle Blog in 2011 given by the Philippine Blog Award. Likewise, my local dialect (Ilonggo) blog, Tumandok, received the award as The Best Culture and Arts in 2011 given the same by the Philippine Blog Award.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
"Are They Made for Each Other?" It was our unique true love story of my high school sweetheart and now my wife when we're studying in high school sometime in 1968. It was "unique" in the sense that we had the same birth dates: (month, date, and the year). Thus, from birth certificate to marriage certificate.
Category/Niche : General, Mixed Blog
Blog description : Random thoughts on lifestyles, news and commentaries on various topics, worth-emulating works and of general interests.
RandomThoughts! is a mixed blog which came to being in 3 February 2011. I blogged about beliefs, family, education, news of general interest, lifestyles, personal experiences which are worth emulating, among others.
About the blogger:
I'm a simple and reserved type of a person; a writer, journalist, and a blogger; frustrated songwriter and a composer; caring, loving father of 6; by profession, had been a banker, a classroom teacher, and now a public school principal.
What’s the inspiration behind your blog and how long has it been around?
Inspirational thoughts and ideas on family, education, school administration, church callings. It started sometime in February 2011. So, it already 1 year and 5 months in this July 2012.
How did you get into blogging?
My desire to write and start a blog was a challenge of my writing skills when Negros Bloggers President H. James Toga added me to Negros Bloggers closed group in Facebook, wherein good writers, good bloggers chatted regularly, especially at night. Every time I opened my computer to browse the Internet I directly signed in to my Facebook account and visited NB Page. There I saw several links of their blogs, which out of my curiosity, I read them all. Until I became get well acquainted with the members of NB and befriended with them. And I sensed my belongingness with this group which is composed of students, government employees, freelance writers, businessmen, realtors, legal luminaries, news reporters who were the pioneers of NB as the core group.
As I regularly followed up their blogs, I said to myself, "This is a challenge of my writing prowess to start a blog of my own. But of course not to compete with them for they'd different fields of expertise and mine is different too. Therefore, doing what I could muster to start a blog is the answer. I started with a unique title, RandomThoughts! not knowing that there are several similar blogs with that same title. Well, I started writing with a controlled contents of various topics which I believe could get the interest of my readers. And it did. For a matter of less than a year, RandomThoughts received the award as The Best Lifestyle Blog in 2011 given by the Philippine Blog Award. Likewise, my local dialect (Ilonggo) blog, Tumandok, received the award as The Best Culture and Arts in 2011 given the same by the Philippine Blog Award.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
"Are They Made for Each Other?" It was our unique true love story of my high school sweetheart and now my wife when we're studying in high school sometime in 1968. It was "unique" in the sense that we had the same birth dates: (month, date, and the year). Thus, from birth certificate to marriage certificate.
Featured Blog #11. FBW is very proud to present to you the featured blog of the week. We all talk about quality content and well written blog, well, here it is. The author behind the blog, was one of the seven bottom-liners for The Bottomline with Boy Abunda, aired last week on ABS-CBN.
Blog Name: The Official Website of Stef dela Cruz – Doctor, Blogger, Writer
Category/ Niche: Health/ Medicine; Blogging/ Writing
Blog Description:
Category/ Niche: Health/ Medicine; Blogging/ Writing
Blog Description:
This is the official website of Stef dela Cruz where she writes about her experiences as a doctor. The website also features health articles and updates on important health issues, such as obesity and cancer. She also throws in useful tips on writing and blogging. Here, she lays down the cards about the politics of medicine and blogging.
The blog has a Facebook page where Stef updates her friends, colleagues, fellow bloggers, and her blog’s readers. Feel free to like her Facebook page – she will appreciate every vote of confidence.
About the blogger:
Stef dela Cruz is a writer. She is also a licensed nurse and doctor, having graduated Cum Laude in both degrees from the University of Santo Tomas. She is a Dean Bacala Academic Excellence Awardee at the same university. She received the Youth Leadership and Excellence Award from the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines when she was twelve.
Stef has a black cat who is proud to have her as his human, but she is a dog person by nature. Her advocacy is to spread awareness about cancer through her writing. She also believes in promoting Filipino pride through her newspaper column.
What’s the inspiration behind the blog and how long has it been around?
The blog has been around for just about four months. Stef’s life reads like an adventure book – writing about the challenges of becoming a doctor and working as a writer-columnist brings out many of the lessons she has learned the hard way.
How did she get into blogging?
By accident. Stef has blogger friends who encouraged her to get her own blog. And the rest, as they say, is history.
What is Stef’s favorite blog post and why?
Stef has marked two blog posts as her personal favorites: Blogger Attitude Check, an article that encourages bloggers to look at the mirror long and hard before they start typing away on their computers, and General Practice: Doctors’ Stigma?, which discusses the prejudice Filipinos have against general practitioners in the Philippines.
Both have become her top picks because they require a call to action, urging people to rethink their beliefs, asking Filipinos to open their minds a little wider. And Stef wants nothing more but to provoke thought and evoke emotion through her words – it is a change for the better that she is after.
The blog has a Facebook page where Stef updates her friends, colleagues, fellow bloggers, and her blog’s readers. Feel free to like her Facebook page – she will appreciate every vote of confidence.
About the blogger:
Stef dela Cruz is a writer. She is also a licensed nurse and doctor, having graduated Cum Laude in both degrees from the University of Santo Tomas. She is a Dean Bacala Academic Excellence Awardee at the same university. She received the Youth Leadership and Excellence Award from the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines when she was twelve.
Stef has a black cat who is proud to have her as his human, but she is a dog person by nature. Her advocacy is to spread awareness about cancer through her writing. She also believes in promoting Filipino pride through her newspaper column.
What’s the inspiration behind the blog and how long has it been around?
The blog has been around for just about four months. Stef’s life reads like an adventure book – writing about the challenges of becoming a doctor and working as a writer-columnist brings out many of the lessons she has learned the hard way.
How did she get into blogging?
By accident. Stef has blogger friends who encouraged her to get her own blog. And the rest, as they say, is history.
What is Stef’s favorite blog post and why?
Stef has marked two blog posts as her personal favorites: Blogger Attitude Check, an article that encourages bloggers to look at the mirror long and hard before they start typing away on their computers, and General Practice: Doctors’ Stigma?, which discusses the prejudice Filipinos have against general practitioners in the Philippines.
Both have become her top picks because they require a call to action, urging people to rethink their beliefs, asking Filipinos to open their minds a little wider. And Stef wants nothing more but to provoke thought and evoke emotion through her words – it is a change for the better that she is after.
Featured blog #10
Blog Name: Ask Hideki
Category/Niche: Tech
Blog Name: Ask Hideki
Category/Niche: Tech
Blog Description: Ask Hideki a blog about gadgets, tech news, reviews and tips of almost anything interesting under the web and mobile world.
About yourself/blogger:
I am Hideki, I have been using that pen name since I started entering the world of internet via mobile web developing, more popularly known as wap. From there, I started studying basic HTML and later tried using blogging platforms (both WP and Blogger) as CMS. It was way back 2008 when I started blogging. I bought the domain name AskHideki.com last 2011. Before that, I was just using free domain names, but had already honed my blogging knowledge and technical skills. I am a 21 year old BSECE student and a tech fanatic. I love gadgets, and this is what I am writing about. I love what I am doing. My other site is Ian Tamad
What’s the inspiration behind your blog and how long has it been around?
I cannot forget the names of all the mentors that taught me all the foundations I am holding into as a blogger/webmaster. First was Sir jonbrewno, I owe him my HTML/CSS/JS knowledge that we honed with
mobile wap sites development, Sir rus929 for my WP familiarization, and Sir bernjie/berniemeiru for self hosted WP and PHP/MYSQL knowledge I gained. I started to write on blogs in 2007, it was still Friendster times. Now, I was inspired with my desire of being like YugaTech and Jehzlau; as they are really an epitome of success in field of blogging and internet.
How did you get into blogging:
I will blame the desire I concocted on my young brain when I was still in high school, when our computer teacher introduced us the internet. After that class I had made a goal for myself that one day I will have a website of my own. Now, I got a lot.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
My favorite blog post is the second and third "Hello World" I got on my site. It's a symbol of not giving up, continuing the life of blogging for me. I get such only when backing up and moving a blog to another due to some unpleasant issues I got while I was on my early years. But seriously, every hello world is my favorite post as per its a mark of a new beginning and a desire to blog that is being started. Even though some are still got stuck on that.
mobile wap sites development, Sir rus929 for my WP familiarization, and Sir bernjie/berniemeiru for self hosted WP and PHP/MYSQL knowledge I gained. I started to write on blogs in 2007, it was still Friendster times. Now, I was inspired with my desire of being like YugaTech and Jehzlau; as they are really an epitome of success in field of blogging and internet.
How did you get into blogging:
I will blame the desire I concocted on my young brain when I was still in high school, when our computer teacher introduced us the internet. After that class I had made a goal for myself that one day I will have a website of my own. Now, I got a lot.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
My favorite blog post is the second and third "Hello World" I got on my site. It's a symbol of not giving up, continuing the life of blogging for me. I get such only when backing up and moving a blog to another due to some unpleasant issues I got while I was on my early years. But seriously, every hello world is my favorite post as per its a mark of a new beginning and a desire to blog that is being started. Even though some are still got stuck on that.
Featured blog #9 - Well, what can I say about the blogger behind this weeks featured blog. He just received a $15 paypal cash for winning the " Best Commenter " for FBW Logo Design contest.
Blog Name: Be Kind To Us Trolls
Category/Niche: Personal
Blog Description: Living the Crazy Life Through The Eyes Of An Internet Troll
About your blog:
My blog was created for fun and not for profit.
It was conceived to satisfy my inquisitive nature.
.
It continued up to this day to challenge my quest for the very elusive answers. The intentions were to share current events and personal adventures. To vent out criticisms and frustrations against the government, society, my next door neighbors, my colleagues, and myself. To explore my impulsive creativity, or wander on my weaknesses and shortcomings as they unravel. To commend remarkable individuals or criticize those that does not conform to my standards.
It’s actually a blog about the effects of the world on my everyday life, and how I perceive them. Destructive or constructive, it doesn’t matter. It’s a blog about my unique eccentric identity.
It’s up to the readers to judge whether I am in crisis or in peace. It’s about me keeping in touch with realities and getting lost in my fantasies.
I believe almost every personal blog out there is a continuous search of the bloggers’ identity and the acknowledgement and acceptance of society.
About yourself/blogger:
My personality is a mix of all genres, with a penchant for the absurd and graphically pleasing. I’m a graduate of Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) from the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT). Yes, I am an Engineer. I am one of the noble semi-skilled laborers that execute the vision of those who think and dream. I am one of the Oompa-Loompas of Science.
However, I dwelt more in Information Technology in most of my existence. I became the IT professional who’s more into substance than structure, the gamer who never finishes a game because I often gets lost in the eye-candy, the frustrated musician who bought an organ and guitar but did not learn how to play it because I could play music better with a computer, and the sci-fi fanatic who would never miss pondering on the opportunity to train and experiment on people like lab rats.
What’s the inspiration behind your blog and how long has it been around?
When I started this blog, my goal was just to react to the very controversial current events happening during that time: November 2011. The time the new Philippine government, headed by Noynoy Aquino, started running after – and eventually filed charges against the corrupt leaders of the former government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It was pay-back time, and I wanted to be part of it, at least via online interaction.
How did you get into blogging?
I started blogging when I found Facebook as just not appropriate or enough for the ideas and criticisms I wanted to share with people. Facebook can reach so many people but it’s difficult to scroll back and forth to past and present topics because of all the other wall posts and comments. The only inconvenient thing about a Wordpress blog is people could not easily “Like” because they still need to register a Wordpress account, which is quite a hassle if they are not bloggers.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
My favorite was one of the very first blog post that I did last November 2011. It was one of the highly read during that month that inspired me to be more creative and continue with my blogging until this day. I occasionally stop when I’m too busy at work, but I always try to find time at least every once in a month to post even a simple blog entry just to keep connected with the online world: Put The Little Girl To Sleep.
Blog Name: Be Kind To Us Trolls
Category/Niche: Personal
Blog Description: Living the Crazy Life Through The Eyes Of An Internet Troll
About your blog:
My blog was created for fun and not for profit.
It was conceived to satisfy my inquisitive nature.
.
It continued up to this day to challenge my quest for the very elusive answers. The intentions were to share current events and personal adventures. To vent out criticisms and frustrations against the government, society, my next door neighbors, my colleagues, and myself. To explore my impulsive creativity, or wander on my weaknesses and shortcomings as they unravel. To commend remarkable individuals or criticize those that does not conform to my standards.
It’s actually a blog about the effects of the world on my everyday life, and how I perceive them. Destructive or constructive, it doesn’t matter. It’s a blog about my unique eccentric identity.
It’s up to the readers to judge whether I am in crisis or in peace. It’s about me keeping in touch with realities and getting lost in my fantasies.
I believe almost every personal blog out there is a continuous search of the bloggers’ identity and the acknowledgement and acceptance of society.
About yourself/blogger:
My personality is a mix of all genres, with a penchant for the absurd and graphically pleasing. I’m a graduate of Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) from the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT). Yes, I am an Engineer. I am one of the noble semi-skilled laborers that execute the vision of those who think and dream. I am one of the Oompa-Loompas of Science.
However, I dwelt more in Information Technology in most of my existence. I became the IT professional who’s more into substance than structure, the gamer who never finishes a game because I often gets lost in the eye-candy, the frustrated musician who bought an organ and guitar but did not learn how to play it because I could play music better with a computer, and the sci-fi fanatic who would never miss pondering on the opportunity to train and experiment on people like lab rats.
What’s the inspiration behind your blog and how long has it been around?
When I started this blog, my goal was just to react to the very controversial current events happening during that time: November 2011. The time the new Philippine government, headed by Noynoy Aquino, started running after – and eventually filed charges against the corrupt leaders of the former government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It was pay-back time, and I wanted to be part of it, at least via online interaction.
How did you get into blogging?
I started blogging when I found Facebook as just not appropriate or enough for the ideas and criticisms I wanted to share with people. Facebook can reach so many people but it’s difficult to scroll back and forth to past and present topics because of all the other wall posts and comments. The only inconvenient thing about a Wordpress blog is people could not easily “Like” because they still need to register a Wordpress account, which is quite a hassle if they are not bloggers.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
My favorite was one of the very first blog post that I did last November 2011. It was one of the highly read during that month that inspired me to be more creative and continue with my blogging until this day. I occasionally stop when I’m too busy at work, but I always try to find time at least every once in a month to post even a simple blog entry just to keep connected with the online world: Put The Little Girl To Sleep.
Meet the blogger who designed the Filipino Bloggers Worldwide Logo. One of the best visual designer in his field. His dedication to his job even get him into blogging which aims to share his knowledge to all individual from different creative fields.
Name : Jyppe A. Quidores
Blog Name : The Creativity Window
Category/Niche : Visual Arts, Retail
Tell us about yourself.
I am print design and visual merchandising specialist. I work to provide creative and innovative graphic design and other visual arts solutions for retailers.
Making display props, setting up floor and window display, designing effective print designs – ranging from a small signage to a large vinyl wrap, doing product photography and maintenance of the visual impact of the store where I am working are only few to mention my present responsibilities.
Consider me as versatile, frugal, innovative and creative.
How did you get into blogging?
In the last quarter of 2009, I was searching the web for some ideas and advices on how get a better job (with higher salary) when I discovered 'personal branding', which suggests that if want to be paid higher, you must know how to market yourself – your values, competencies and skills.
To market yourself means to apply the principle of marketing on managing your career, and one of the suggestions of the experts is to engage on social media and start blogging as one of the tools.
I formally started blogging in July 2010 and have created many blogs as effect of my excitement. When I found my niche and discovered that I can also earn extra income from my blogs after few months of hopping from one blogging platform to another and writing anything and everything under the sun which I felt good talking about, I settled at Blogger.com (blogspot). Since then, blogging become both my extra income generating hobby and career management tool.
Describe your blog/ Tell us about your blog.
The Creativity Window is a blog and portfolio. As blog, it touches variety of topics about but not limited to visual arts especially on their application to retailing with emphasis on visual merchandising, print design, product photography and creative display to inspire the beginners in the field, and help improve their skills to become more effective in producing creative and innovative designs and other visual art projects.
The Visual Merchandising Category of this blog is dedicated to the tips and ideas on how to stimulate customers’ perceptual and emotional response through aesthetics and other elements of retailing and on the career advancement of visual merchandisers. One of the topics under this category that find to be more interesting is the window display.
This blog also offers bonus visual arts resources about home and office decoration, arts and crafts for kids, visual aids ideas for teachers and other enjoyable creative stuffs for everyone.
What is your inspiration for blogging?
My love on visual arts is my major inspiration. I love to create some new that is both beautiful and beneficial, and whenever I discover or learn something new (for me), I share it on my blog to serve as inspiration to others.
Advice/tip you can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
I only have 1 tip. Follow the footsteps of real successful bloggers.
Name : Jyppe A. Quidores
Blog Name : The Creativity Window
Category/Niche : Visual Arts, Retail
Tell us about yourself.
I am print design and visual merchandising specialist. I work to provide creative and innovative graphic design and other visual arts solutions for retailers.
Making display props, setting up floor and window display, designing effective print designs – ranging from a small signage to a large vinyl wrap, doing product photography and maintenance of the visual impact of the store where I am working are only few to mention my present responsibilities.
Consider me as versatile, frugal, innovative and creative.
How did you get into blogging?
In the last quarter of 2009, I was searching the web for some ideas and advices on how get a better job (with higher salary) when I discovered 'personal branding', which suggests that if want to be paid higher, you must know how to market yourself – your values, competencies and skills.
To market yourself means to apply the principle of marketing on managing your career, and one of the suggestions of the experts is to engage on social media and start blogging as one of the tools.
I formally started blogging in July 2010 and have created many blogs as effect of my excitement. When I found my niche and discovered that I can also earn extra income from my blogs after few months of hopping from one blogging platform to another and writing anything and everything under the sun which I felt good talking about, I settled at Blogger.com (blogspot). Since then, blogging become both my extra income generating hobby and career management tool.
Describe your blog/ Tell us about your blog.
The Creativity Window is a blog and portfolio. As blog, it touches variety of topics about but not limited to visual arts especially on their application to retailing with emphasis on visual merchandising, print design, product photography and creative display to inspire the beginners in the field, and help improve their skills to become more effective in producing creative and innovative designs and other visual art projects.
The Visual Merchandising Category of this blog is dedicated to the tips and ideas on how to stimulate customers’ perceptual and emotional response through aesthetics and other elements of retailing and on the career advancement of visual merchandisers. One of the topics under this category that find to be more interesting is the window display.
This blog also offers bonus visual arts resources about home and office decoration, arts and crafts for kids, visual aids ideas for teachers and other enjoyable creative stuffs for everyone.
What is your inspiration for blogging?
My love on visual arts is my major inspiration. I love to create some new that is both beautiful and beneficial, and whenever I discover or learn something new (for me), I share it on my blog to serve as inspiration to others.
Advice/tip you can give to new bloggers to succeed in blogging.
I only have 1 tip. Follow the footsteps of real successful bloggers.
- Pete Cashmore of Mashable
- Darren Rowse of Problogger
- Brian Clark of Copyblogger
- Vitaly Friedman of Smashing Magazine
- Michael Arrington of Techcrunch
- Nick Denton of Life Hacker
- Peter Rojas Engadget
- Collis Taeed of Tuts+
- And MOOOORE...
Featured blog #8 The blogger is known for a different approach in every photograph and drawing on her posts. Her artistic abilty is not the usual "perfect touch" approach but rather a personal touch that ends up to be unique and beautifully executed.
CATEGORY/NICHE: Personal
ABOUT MY BLOG:
My blog serves as an online outlet of self-expression, thus the very personal touch to it. It's a mixture of everything I think I do: I write there, I show my photos, my drawings, the food I eat, stuff I do for school, etc.
I always try to convince myself that my life is not boring at all. I also hope to keep things interesting in my blog so that backtracking it in the future would be a breeze.
Whenever I do a post, I try to make it "very me" by writing on the photos and even drawing on my face when I want to.
ABOUT MYSELF:
I'm Athena, I just turned 20 and a graduate of Bachelor of Fine Arts : Industrial Design from UP Cebu. I'm an aspiring photographer and designer, but I do a lot of other things in my spare time. I like doing self-portraits, reading, taking photos of stuff and people, and doing artsy-fartsy stuff. I love Oreos and the Internet too.
THE INSPIRATION BEHIND MY BLOG AND HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN AROUND:
The inspiration behind my blog has always been the desire to come up with something that I can really say that I've put an effort to. Also, there is this drive that makes me want to
write better, photograph better and see the progress even in my blog's little space.
I named my blog "Noting Athena" because I wanted something easy to remember with my name on it. Apparently, the "noting" part is easy to remember but some people read it as "nothing", which makes me laugh sometimes.
My blog ( notingathena) has been around for five months now. It's still very young since I just started again after being frustrated by the last one I had. I am very happy with this space now, and I hope it will be here to stay.
HOW DID I GET INTO BLOGGING:
I've been blogging since high school, but every time I start a blog, I usually get tired after a few months or so. I either shut them down or just leave them with no more updates. But a few months ago, I felt like I should just blog again because it's nice to have a place to express oneself and interact with fellow bloggers.
MY FAVORITE BLOG POST:
My favorite blog post as of now is The Red Herring at 3/24 because my friends and I had a small photoshoot after being frustrated for not being able to push through with our thesis defense that day. This is quite memorable because the lighting used was LED lights from a lamp I designed.
Featured blog #7- Meet the blogger behind Enzo's Point - An educator, OFW, a good friend, an "Outstanding School Paper Adviser of the Philippines " and most of all a Loving Son.
Blog Name : Enzo's Point
Category/Niche : Personal
Blog Description : love, life, leisure, lessons and more...
About the Blog:
Enzo's Point is a personal blog that serves as an avenue for expression of Enzo's personal views in life, love, lessons, and other matters significant to him. He also shares his personal experiences in this site hoping to inspire others.
About yourself/blogger:
Lorenzo Caballes, Jr. has worked as a teacher for six years in the Philippines before he decided to move to Thailand in 2010. He graduated at the Philippine Normal University (Agusan Campus) with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education Major in English. While teaching in the Philippines, he was very active in campus journalism and was awarded as an Outstanding School Paper Adviser of the Philippines during the National Schools Press Conference in February 2010.
Aside from watching movies, he also spends his free time reading, surfing the internet, and blogging. He blogs about his travels at TripZone, his latest entertainment finds in The MAGIC in Me and his personal thoughts and experiences in his Enzo's Point.
What inspires this blog:
Enzo thinks he is a very passionate and very expressive person. This blog site came out to be his best friend whom he can share his thoughts with. When his mind is overflowing with thoughts and no one is available to
listen to him, this is where he pours out all his emotions.
How did you get into blogging:
Enzo has always loved writing. He admitted he is not an exceptional writer but he always has a heart to write. Enzo's Point was born when he came to Thailand two years ago. He met two passionate bloggers - Ms. Janet Luison and Mr. John Patrick Benliro who inspired him to blog thus came his first blog site. Since then, he has had several other blog sites but Enzo's Point will always remain as his first love and will always be his home.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
Her Footnote to Youth. This is an article I wrote inspired by a person so close and dear to me. The story got me carried away that it got me sobbing after I finished writing it. I am hoping it somehow would serve as a lesson to the young girls who are right now blinded with passion.
Blog Name : Enzo's Point
Category/Niche : Personal
Blog Description : love, life, leisure, lessons and more...
About the Blog:
Enzo's Point is a personal blog that serves as an avenue for expression of Enzo's personal views in life, love, lessons, and other matters significant to him. He also shares his personal experiences in this site hoping to inspire others.
About yourself/blogger:
Lorenzo Caballes, Jr. has worked as a teacher for six years in the Philippines before he decided to move to Thailand in 2010. He graduated at the Philippine Normal University (Agusan Campus) with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education Major in English. While teaching in the Philippines, he was very active in campus journalism and was awarded as an Outstanding School Paper Adviser of the Philippines during the National Schools Press Conference in February 2010.
Aside from watching movies, he also spends his free time reading, surfing the internet, and blogging. He blogs about his travels at TripZone, his latest entertainment finds in The MAGIC in Me and his personal thoughts and experiences in his Enzo's Point.
What inspires this blog:
Enzo thinks he is a very passionate and very expressive person. This blog site came out to be his best friend whom he can share his thoughts with. When his mind is overflowing with thoughts and no one is available to
listen to him, this is where he pours out all his emotions.
How did you get into blogging:
Enzo has always loved writing. He admitted he is not an exceptional writer but he always has a heart to write. Enzo's Point was born when he came to Thailand two years ago. He met two passionate bloggers - Ms. Janet Luison and Mr. John Patrick Benliro who inspired him to blog thus came his first blog site. Since then, he has had several other blog sites but Enzo's Point will always remain as his first love and will always be his home.
What is your favorite blog post and why?
Her Footnote to Youth. This is an article I wrote inspired by a person so close and dear to me. The story got me carried away that it got me sobbing after I finished writing it. I am hoping it somehow would serve as a lesson to the young girls who are right now blinded with passion.
Featured blog #5
Blog Name: Filipino Blogger on New Media | Jerome Ibuyan
Category/Niche: Blogging and Social Media
Blog Name: Filipino Blogger on New Media | Jerome Ibuyan
Category/Niche: Blogging and Social Media
Featured blog #4
Blog Name : TKUEXCLUSIVE
Category/Niche : Personal
Blog Description : My blog is all about me, my personal experiences, the things learned and those I have regret. I also blog about certain events that matter and those that need attention- those that deserve to be spoken of.
Blog Name : TKUEXCLUSIVE
Category/Niche : Personal
Blog Description : My blog is all about me, my personal experiences, the things learned and those I have regret. I also blog about certain events that matter and those that need attention- those that deserve to be spoken of.
Featured Blog #3
Category/Niche : Food and Drink
Blog Description : Random Food Trips with Close Friends. A blog of a foodie at heart that enjoys munching on good food more than anything else. The aim is to encapsulate the dining experiences and make it really simple for easy comprehension.
