Ferrari Cars Giveaway - Winner announcement!

My ride. Lol!

Ferrari Cars Giveaway!

In Reyjr.com's first giveaway ever, I wish I was giving away the car pictured above - but don't fret because I am giving away the next best thing (LoL!): 2 Shell Ferrari model cars: a 612 Scaglietti and a 599 GTB Fiorano. I realized I already had the whole set, so might as well give these 2 away to one of my lucky blog readers. :D

It's not a contest, but I do want to give it to who really wants it most. :) Here are the very simple mechanics:

Home, Happiness, and Häagen-Dazs

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A House is not a Home

"I am a city boy who works in the province", goes the first line of my blogger profile.  That means on top of the stressful days and nights in the office writing reports and beating deadlines, or working under the scorching heat of the sun especially during plant maintenance shutdowns, I go home to an empty room, have to cook for myself and eat while having a one way conversation with the television. Blah. Bleh. Blah.

Because of this, my weekends have become all the more focused not only on recharging and relaxation, but more importantly, spending quality time with my loved ones. The 2-hour rush home is always a build up of increasing excitement... and the best way arrive Home is with some awesome "pasalubong", of course!

Awesome Pasalubong! Häagen-Dazs Caramel Biscuit & Cream

I don't know anyone in my family who can resist some rich Häagen-Dazs ice cream, so when I heard that there was a new flavor out - Häagen-Dazs Caramel Biscuit & Cream - I just had to get a pint!  My weekend was slowly melting into happiness...

Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package for two!

Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package by WOW Philippines Travel Agency
WOW Philippines Travel Agency, Inc. is celebrating it's 5th year in business during July of 2010, and we would like you to have a chance to celebrate with us, so we have decided to give-away a FREE Boracay Package complete with 5 Star accommodations at the luxurious Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel on Boracay Island. The lucky winner will win the following Boracay vacation package.
Vacation Package Inclusions:

- 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxury 5 Star Accommodations at the Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel
- Flights to Boracay from Manila to Caticlan Airport on Philippine Airlines
- Island Transfers - Door-to-Door from Manila to the resort and back to Manila Domestic Airport
- Three (3) Meals each day, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Boracay Activities - Horseback Riding, Island Hopping, Glass Bottom Boat
- PLUS - 5,000 peso Spending Cash

Read More Information: http://www.boracay-packages.com



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Get free PatayGutom.com keychains!

I was caught by surprise! Jehzlau had a Christmas surprise up his sleeve - FREE PatayGutom.com keychains for the first 50 commenters (with a reason that rocks)!  Check out PatayGutom.com for details! Hurry!





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“I Enjoyed My Century Bangus Fillet on my exhausting 5.5 hr drive to Manila”

Atypical Day

I work in Batangas, a province about 2 hours away from Manila by car, and I typically drive back to my house in Pasig every Friday night. I've been doing this weekly for the past 5 years or so, and if there was ever an expert on it, I guess I could very well qualify. I had developed a knack for timing my departure and predicting my arrival time - to the minute. Well... until recently.

You may have heard about the broken (Bridge of) Promise in Batangas City - well, it's still kaput and the only way out of the city is right through the traffic. Yes. Just getting out of Batangas City will take up to 45 minutes nowadays. Ugh. Traffic has become completely unpredictable.

But, last night - ohhh last night - was exceptionally atypical...

Who wants a Google Wave invite?

What Google Wave preview looks like:

Who wants a Google Wave invite?

First off, thanks to Benj for the invite. ;)

I have 5 Google Waves invites to give away, and since most of my blogger friends already have Google Wave preview, I will give these away to total strangers (lol) I mean to prospective Google Wave friends. Hehe.

My rules are simple:  the Top 5 people with the most comments on this post at the stroke of midnight of Tuesday, December 1, 2009 (Philippine time!) will receive the Google Wave invites. Make sure you put your email when you comment.

But please don't spam me. Wah! Hint: Why not ask a question or answer someone else's question, or give your opinions on Google Wave, or ask me a question. I answer all comments on this blog. :D I am looking for prospective Google Wave friends and this is why I am wiling to give the invites to those most engaging.

In case of ties...

How JaypeeOnline celebrates Thanksgiving

...he gives away US$1,500 worth of prizes on his "Thanksgiving Giveaway" Contest!

Thanksgiving Turkey

Yes, you read it right, 2009 PBA Winner for Best Technology Blog JaypeeOnline is giving away a ton (yep, I weighed it myself) of prizes in celebration of Thanksgiving. It's his way of "expressing my gratitude for all the blessings I’ve received this year including the recent achievements and success of JaypeeOnline."

Read about the Prizes and How to Join this contest after the jump...

I'm joining TheWeblogZone Blog Contest - and you should too!

Here are the reasons why I am joining this blog contest:

1. I want One year hosting with Hostican (Base Host Package)!
2. I want the Thesis Wordpress Theme – The best search engine optimized Wordpress theme.
3. It would be AWESOME to have a custom Banner/Logo done by a professional graphic designer and with a satisfaction guaranteed clause at that!
4. I'm interested to read the Problogger Book by Darren Rowse and Chris Garret
5. I want $100 (Payable through Paypal) - and I don't need to say why. doh!

If you're interested to WIN the above items too... head on over to The Weblog Zone and join The Weblog Zone Blog Contest today! (and I mean TODAY, because today's the last day!)

EIB09: Attended my first blogging event ever and had a blast

Emerging Influential Bloggers 2009: My first blogging event

It was my first venture into the land of the bloggers (hehe) and I was quite anxious about it: My first ever blogging event! Sure, I've had my blog for quite a while, but I've actually only really started blogging last January 2009. Would any of them even know my blog? And besides, who knows what these bloggers are like? Wah!

After some "boyfriend duties", I rushed to Casino Filipino on Sucat Road in Paranaque (I was an hour late! doh!). As I pulled in the parking area, curiously eyeing the huge PAGCOR sign and thinking to myself, it says Casino Filipino, not PAGCOR in the invite...is this really Casino Filipino? Why does it only say PAGCOR? Lol. I realized later that it was common knowledge that they were one and the same. Hah!


Anyways, I worked my way through the reception, the metal detectors, up the stairs, through registration and into the Forum Hall. With cold and sweaty hands, I opened the door and looked for a familiar face.

Meeting Bloggers

The first face I recognizedwas Roy's. I smiled as I approached him and said "Roy, right?" but when his face gave me a "Who the hell is this?" look, I said "Rey". Lol. How do you make a return from that? Waah! I looked around the table and saw them: Jan was there, all the way from Mindoro! Snow of "Dear Bloggery", Tyrone of "Millionaireacts", Angel of "FatherBlogger" and a couple of others were at Roy and Jan's table. At the next table were Doc Z, Lyle, Bloggista, Ceblogger, Jhong, ThirdWorldGeek, Elmot and Yatot (you two should start a talk show "The Elmot and Yatot show" hehe!). A couple of tables away, I saw Ada and Kelvin as well.

I sat beside Doc Z and everyone at the table started teasing me about my post about tips on How to prepare for a Blogging event, and showed me their "blogging cards" haha! I was slightly surprised. Holy crap, the comments on my blog actually came from real people. (Lol) At that moment, I felt at ease with them.

Emerging Influential Bloggers 2009

The program went by quickly but not drudgingly, with bloggers sharing stories that both touched and inspired, the winners were announced by Janette one by one.

Congratulations are in order for the following blogs who bested the rest and came out on top, victorious. The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2009

1. Writing to Exhale
2. Patay Gutom
3. The Struggling Blogger
4. Zorlone
5. Father Blogger dot Com
6. KelvinonianIdeas 2.0
7. Tales from the Mom Side
8. Adaphobic
9. Lakwatsero
10. Let's Go Sago!

Special congratulations to my Jediblogger friends Jan, Roy, Doc Z, Kelvin, and honorary member Angel!

A list of posts by different bloggers about the EIB09 eyeball can be found on Janette Toral's Influential Blogger site. By the way, a huge THANK YOU to Janette and the sponsors for organizing this event!

Lastly, here's the video of the Jedibloggers, hanging out with Annalyn of Annalyn.net after the EIB09.

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How to prepare for your first Bloggers meet

Next week, I will be attending my first ever bloggers meet - the awarding ceremonies for the Top Emerging Influential Bloggers for 2009, and I am at a loss for how to prepare for it. But being the (mild) OC that I am, I have decided to make a list of things to do, to bring, to internalize and externalize (lol) for the bloggers meet.
Feel free to add your suggestions and your advice in the comments section below!


What to bring:
- Bring a pen and a small notebook, in case you have to write down names and blogs.
- Bring your blogging card with your blog's name and website on it. (lol! I did not know how to call it - it can't be a calling card right?)
- Bring your camera!
- Bring enough cash for taxi and coffee. (Because people will probably be having coffee after that!)
- Bring an ID in case you need to "authenticate" your identity. Or to prove that you're above 18. (we'll be in a Casino after all, you might want to try some slot machines)

What to think about before going:
- Have an agenda - what is your objective in going to the bloggers meet? Is it just to meet your new blogger friends? Is it to tell everyone about your blog to gain more traffic? Is it to learn new insights and technologies for blogging? Is it for the free food? All of the above?
- After you've identified your priorities, set up actions to achieve your objectives. (i.e. the cards?)
- Think of questions you want to be answered - by the hosts, by your blogging peers, by the sponsors, etc. I'm sure they will let you ask questions.

What to do during the event proper:
- Dress appropriately, in case you get called to the stage to receive a raffle prize. Powder your nose, wear some cologne, comb your hair and brush your teeth. :D (This is more for my benefit, lol!)
- Arrive a little after the scheduled start time. It's not cool to be the first one to arrive. (hehe, this applies to all parties!) Also, don't be the last to leave. Instead, go for coffee. :D
- Be friendly, be open, be nice: smile, shake hands, and talk talk talk.
- Talk some more. Don't limit discussions on blogging.
- Listen to the speakers, you might learn a thing or two.

The 2009 Emerging Influential Bloggers meet will be on August 8, Saturday, 6PM to 11PM at the Forum Hall, Casino Filipino, PIRC Bldg. Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Parañaque City. If you are planning to attend, you should confirm your attendance HERE!

See you all soon!


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The Uber Prestigious Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009

I have edited this post (7/11/09) because I'm happy to announce that I have finally (FINALLY! yes..) completed my noms for this year's uber awesome, uber prestigious top emerging influential blogs. I started out with just two nominations, and begged my readers to send me links to their favorite newbie blogs (and this explains why most comments here are suggestions!) and in the process, I have made several new blogger friends (and some jedi masters), improved my readership (to a staggering 30 visits per day! lol..), and most importantly, connected with people who share a true passion for blogging.

Without further ado, here is my uber awesome and eccentric list:

1. http://www.adaphobic.com/
2. http://tunaynalalake.blogspot.com/
3. http://ka-blogs-tugan.blogspot.com/
4. http://videochops.com/
5. http://www.pataygutom.com/
6. http://writingtoexhale.com/
7. http://zorlone.blogspot.com/
8. http://goodtimesmanila.com/
9. http://www.millionaireacts.com/
   
10. http://thestrugglingblogger.168center.com
    

WOOT! CONGRATULATIONS! You're all winners in my book (or post)!

Awarding will be on August 8, 6pm at Casino Filipino in Paranaque. Confirm your attendance to this event here.

If you're STILL clueless about what I am blabbering about, visit Influential Blogger by Janette Toral: Join the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009 Writing Project and consider nominating the people in my list! They really deserve it!

Oh, and before I forget, please do visit the following sponsors: Absolute Traders, My Brute Cheats, Business Summaries, Fitness Advantage Club, Events and Corporate Video, Events at Work, Dominguez Marketing Communications, Red Mobile, Budget hotel in Makati, Lucio C. Tan Group of Companies, and Blog4Reviews.com. This writing project will not be possible without their support! They're awesome! (And rich too! Hehe.)


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Vote for me on MTV Blogger Contest

Sure, we want the best of both worlds: we want lots of money and musical independence. But can you have both?

Being an indie band offers freedom to decide what musical direction to take, which songs to release, how and where to promote your music. The advent of internet sites like iTunes, MySpace and YouTube have also allowed more indie artists to "earn from their living rooms" than ever before. So as an indie artist, you should first as yourself, do you really need to be under a major label..


Read the full post on the MTV.com site by clicking here: Indie artists: Pragmatism in the face of adversity!

and please VOTE for me by clicking the THUMBS UP symbol on there. Hehehe!

Thanks in advance! :D


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