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a mom blogger who advocates constructive engagement in issues on family & society.
Lifestyle
JC de los Reyes on Servant Mothers, Humble Nation-Builders
I have been swamped lately with our interviews of presidential candidates in blogwatch.ph. One of these candidates, JC de los Reyes of Ang Kapatiran party moved me so much. Let me make it clear. I am not supporting a presidential candidate as of the moment. But I like JC de los Reyes, the humble person and public servant, and pretty much how I felt when I met Nick Perlas that I even wrote about his views on new politics. These are competent but not too popular presidential candidates. Well, not yet because they are not given a chance by the Filipino people and more so with media. JC de los Reyes was not invited to the de La Salle forum or even the upcoming January 14 Romulo debate in AIM. But really, these presidential candidates have the compassion, the vision and the clear platform. Truly new politics. It frustrates me that traditional media do not give the same media mileage given to Manny Villar, Gibo Teodoro, Dick Gordon etc. Let the electorate decide not those stupid surveys to bring in ratings or brisk sales.
Read More »JC de los Reyes on Servant Mothers, Humble Nation-Builders
New Politics, New Media, A New Beginning in 2010
Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. Hal Borland
Peace , love and prosperity is what I wished for 2009. Though Ondoy hit us and to this day, our cars are still in the shop, life is good. When I wondered what was coming for 2009, I told myself the best is coming, the very best in life and love had to offer, the best God will send and claim it as mine.
As the year ends, I feel blessed to be offered the position of Features Editor of Vibal’s Foundation, Philippine Online Chronicles (POC) in recognition for the editorial work I do for blogwatch.ph.
How did I end up in an election watch project anyway when my only exposure to politics was my student council days? I had long envisioned myself to be of service to our country. Perhaps blogging is one way. New media events just fell into place. Sure, I am a blogger but a new media publisher is the more accurate word, because I create content, collaborate and connect.
Here are the events that brought me to the challenge I face today.
It started when Carlo Ople, the New Media Consultant of Senator Mar Roxas back in August 2008 invited me for a bloggers’ meetup and I almost choked:
““Whaaat? I hope you won’t ask me to endorse him or something”.
Another meetup with Mar Roxas in early 2009 brought me to the realization that politicians will actually meet with bloggers as election nears. I resolved to meet up with each candidate if an invitation is offered to me. It seemed important to share my thoughts to my readers in a simple and effective format.
The 2009 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards
Congratulations to the Pinoy Expats-OFW Blog Awards or PEBA that honored the the best and inspiring Expatriates and Overseas Filipino Workers Blogs around the world. I am honored to be included as an honorary member of this organization, considering that I am not an OFW.
PEBA’s 2009 theme ““Filipinos abroad: hope of the nation, gift to the world” captures an uncommon perception of our expats and OFWs – they are heroes for both the Philippines and the countries that receive them as workers or migrants.
Congratulations to the winners, and organizers for the successful awards night. I know how it feels to organize an awards event and you pulled it through. I had so much fun at the awards night, meeting Juana Change, Dinky Soliman, Risa Hontieveros, Susan Ople, and OFW bloggers. I am grateful that corporate giants like Nokia and Smart Communications supported their endeavor in so short a notice.
Read More »The 2009 Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards
Contest: Win an 8GB iPod Nano with your Real Leaf Story
After dinner, I’m usually in front of the TV, digesting and unwinding with a glass of tea. Normally, I prefer coffee over tea, but I feel that the latter is a more agreeable beverage for the evening. Not only does green tea aid in digestion and relax the digestive process; it can also stimulate the mind and keep your nervous system in excellent form. These days, I am busy with a new project called blogwatch.ph (Voters education) . I usually have some more work to do after dinner, and tea is the perfect drink to help me stay awake and focused without causing insomnia. Can you tell that the word “VOTE” is plastered all over my face that my husband bought me this tee as one of his Christmas presents.
Read More »Contest: Win an 8GB iPod Nano with your Real Leaf Story
Love, Betrayal, On Growing old & Retirememt
‘The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar, and familiar things new.’ Samuel Johnson
No, I am not the blogger with a published book. Meet 66 year old Annamanila, who blogs at ode2old.blogspot.com. She used to be the editor of my work when I was a researcher at the UP Institute of Small Scale Industries till 1986 when I got fired by the new director. Twenty years passed me by and one day in 2006, I received a comment from Annamanila because of my Philippine Idol post. I was glad to hear from her. A few weeks elapsed, she announced that she started a blog. I groaned. “Oh no, she will read my blog regularly now” but I learned to shrug my “writing skills’ insecurities” off and taking up the challenge to equip myself to be a better writer.
Read More »Love, Betrayal, On Growing old & Retirememt
Filipino Kids & Their Lifestyle in 2009
Two years ago, Cartoons Network commissioned a survey on Filipino Kids and their lifestyle called “New Generations” because they believe that such study is an integral part of its on-going quest to learn about kids, their lifestyle , opinions and behavior. TV is the number one choice for kids among various forms of media consumption. Quite disappointing really. The 2009 survey does not differ much in TV consumption and preference.
Biggest Blogger Event Ever: Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards
Irrespective of who wins, I believe the biggest winner tonight is the blogging culture in the Asia Pacific itself– Ming and Tim, Founders of Nuffnang.com
It’s 1:42 AM and I have just uploaded the photos of the biggest blogger event I have ever attended. I loved it. The event was well organized, food was great, and meeting bloggers from 3 other countries is something different from other blogger events attended so far. The Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards gathered over 400 bloggers from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Australia. Around 31 Pinoy bloggers flew all the way to Singapore.
Photo via Ada Lajara. Glamorous Filipina bloggers gather at the Link Hotel before proceeding to the Pan Pacific Hotel for the Awards Ceremony
After 2 years of community building, Nuffnang.com presented the first ever Asia-Pacific Blog Awards at the Pan Pacific Hotel.
with Nuffnang co-founder Tim
Read More »Biggest Blogger Event Ever: Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards
Losing Weight to Boom Boom Pow
Your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess the baggage, the shorter the trip. Arnold H. Glasgow This article has… Read More »Losing Weight to Boom Boom Pow
Blog Action Day 2009: My Stand on Climate Change
It is Blog Action Day today. Filipino bloggers will speak out and take a stand now on climate change.
Filipinos in Metro Manila witnessed the effects of climate change never seen before in my entire lifetime of 52 years. Sure, I have seen floods but not in such wide scale proportions. My family survived the Ondoy floods. I feel blessed and at the same time guilty that not much was lost. Material possessions can easily be bought but lives, precious lives have been lost in other families.