The iBLOG7 Experience: While on a Writer's Block

I attended the recently concluded IBLOG7 at UP Diliman Malcolm Theater this Saturday and boy it was good! I got to rub shoulders with blogging superstars and people from the industry that I barely know... I mean I'm just a speck in the Internet cloud and they have thousands of readers so who am I to complain right? LOL

Anyway... I was actually laughing about this topic that they had about having a writer's block. I mean how in the world could anyone have that if they are blogging in the first place? (a couple of times I even said that's a stupid topic!) Then I got into my laptop that evening and started to write. That cursor started blinking after clicking the New Post link. Then BOOM! I was just there... staring at my laptop screen not knowing what to do. I didn't know what to write about. Ironic I know. I was laughing about it but sheesh.. I didn't see that coming. Oh yeah I had my own official Writer's block after that day... then came Sunday.. Monday... well 2 whole unproductive days later I'm writing about it now. So that I think is a good thing I learned after IBLOG7, cool huh!?

When I arrived in UP that day I wasn't expecting much since it was just my first official IBLOG event. I said I'll just stay in the sidelines and pretend like I'm a wallflower like most things I go to but you tend to still have that hope that you'll get something out of it even if I was a noob for things like these. That ain't no April Fools thing, I'm used to pretending that I don't exist and let everyone fly by. It's a trait I developed when I don't like the crowd. But you know, I gave it a shot... I was impressed how hassle free and organized the event was. I breezed through the door and came in the theater... surprised everyone was actually looking at me when I came in. I thought I disturbed something but I think it was because they already have introduced themselves and a couple of us didn't. I was late so I sat comfortably at the back and decided to just observe. I did introduce myself as a porn site ha-ha! Wanted to be witty but I was nervous so that didn't work. Got a couple of laughs... and that's about it!

I listened to the speaker... it was about Advocacy Blogging. I'm not matapobre. I'm not. I just have low tolerance for people who don't understand. That subject was a little elementary for me. I think I know what that means. It's not for everybody. I think its a calling. If you find love in doing good deeds and don't ask a single cent for it then by all means its for you! If you have second thoughts or think you still need to earn from it I think it is unethical. That maybe untrue for some of you. But that's how I know you do it. Else, find some other niche!

GMTristan of levelupgames made short work of explaining how social networks such as Facebook could help market your online property. Well let me say I kinda liked what he did about his page so I did mine this morning... does this look more appealing now? LOL!!!

I think its better than just the cow's cuteness there. From the photoshoot I did last week, he gave me a brilliant idea to put em here. So there... I learned from you even if I play RAN and CABAL ha-ha! =) Don't you just wanna click it?! Ha-ha!

Next up was about Building a Discussion Community. I think there are several things on my mind that kept me interested about that subject. I have 7 forums under my belt that need the information he shared. I guess I have been doing that for the past few months. Maybe the part where trolls were discussed was special to me. I don't really permit them in my forum sites because 1. The company I host them for doesn't allow it and 2. I have low tolerance on people who's not in the right mind giving their opinions. I'm very impressed by his credentials... I should probably take a look at his site later this week. I need to be informed with Gundam and Macross. I think it was the early 90's where I got interested with them... then got off the geek bandwagon when someone stole my magazines. Maybe I'll learn a thing or two there. You should too!

I remember the Mommy Psychologist con Cute Doggie who said her stuff about what social- behavioral changes has happened after Facebook... she's got a lot of good points. Extroverts became a lot noisy... and Emo types had a channel to put their stuff too! I can relate because I just got my Emo hair in the hangers now. I like what happened to her diet though... impressive before and after photos to the delight of bloggers like me who forgot to go back to the gym after getting sick a few months ago LOL!

I didn't go to the first day of IBLOG7 but there was a lot of stuff that went on with the planned blog organizations for professionals. There was also some plans of a national thing with it. I heard what they said from the sidelines. For me it's still a resounding HELL NO. I ain't into letting a "government" or "organization" shutting me and my loud mouth when I want to do things on my site. Much of lifestyle and things that are here are with my views. I keep it real. I'm already done with that. About the whole etiquette thing I'd rather have it as an unwritten rule. I won't comment on that anymore because a lot has been already said. As for me and my writer's block I think I got over that a few paragraphs ago. LOL... Thank you to the organizers of IBLOG7! You deserve more credit for the job that you do! I'll be there next time!


P.S. As you can see I didn't have that much photos from the event because my camera lost juice. I've got a video I'm posting soon. So watch out for that in the next few days!

Wishful Thinking

I wanted to pursue a medical career when I was a kid but I always ended up in the wrong side of the story because I was always hospitalized. I get sick most of the time and that turned out to be one of the signs that I was destined to be a Computer Engineer. I was happy to say the least but almost all my cousins are nurses. I'm the only one based in the Philippines and they ended up in Canada, US or Australia. I wanted to wear nursing uniforms even before puberty because I wanted to end up practicing medicine professionally. That's how obnoxious I was even before the thought dissipated in college. That would have been neat to see me in white. I still like daydreaming about people calling me Doctor Ha-ha!

Today, seeing my cousins having families of their own and an illustrious career out of it I sit and wonder what could have happened if I pursued it?! I may have been one of the most successful pediatrician or neurological doctors that the Philippines have produced. I always end up buying them cheap scrubs for Christmas but they never knew I was thinking of wearing one too. I did that a couple of years ago when there was a fad wearing them just for kicks. I secretly wished to wear them all just for fashion purposes but deep inside it was clinging on to me. I wish there was some way I could have time to learn another course and get a medical degree. I would like to help a lot of people and be like some of my successful relatives who have money to spend and still have time of their family. I want to see myself wear nursing scrubs not just for kicks, but live life with a purpose. Wouldn't anyone want that?! =)

Shooting Ms. Cuba: Arianna Barouk

It was a day of fashion overdose again as I held Trish (my cam) and met a few other photographers for this particular shoot. I was so excited because luck has been going my way and true enough I got hold of a very gorgeous model. Arianna Barouk, a statuesque cuban lady from the Ms. Earth competition made my day so great I was smiling from ear to ear while shooting. It was one of the best to say the least. Here's the part where we went to the abandoned house that we chose to be the location. It wasn't the best but it was quite a remarkable photoshoot.

Check this out!



You got to see a glimpse of what actually goes on in one of my shoots. This was actually pretty small compared to what I was doing in the past. What made it special was it was more intimate and I got to talk to her a whole lot more! Oooh if you only knew how much I liked the short talks we had in between I was in bliss! Thanks for making this possible and to show you how much I liked this... check out this shot I got processed after that!

Ooh it was so nice to get to shoot gorgeous ladies like her. I want to shoot more Brazilians, Russians, Cubans, or just any Caucasian. There is something special with them that I can't point out. Aside from being flawless and less post processing needed, I just love how they look. It's different if you compare shooting Filipino models huh! I love Arianna too because she wasn't too grossed out about the location like some other models I know. She's so professional! Can I marry her? LOL

The Importance of Branding

Branding can make or break a product; and I have been engaged in the industry for several years now. Making each part of a manufactured product feel like something at the back of your hand is one of the key goals in making a successful marketing campaign. This calls for a major information overload, brainstorming and logo designing activities so if they see it visually they would recognize your brand immediately. This has been done by a lot of successful corporations and why wouldn't we be part of that success right?! Making all the effort to have that name recall each time your product is needed indicates success among other things. I would love to do the same to all my sites too. I've had quite a few running now.

With little technical knowhow on design and aesthetics it would be proper to have someone make it for me. I've seen quite a lot and one of them out there like LOGOMOJO.COM that makes these things professionally. Imagine how easy it is to whip up a logo of my own and get all the rest settled in. There are a lot of them out there but those who definitely stick to your memory are the unique and good ones. Branding takes a lot of stuff which also includes having images to represent you and your planned organization. I'm so glad things like these are easier since there are professionals who can do it pretty much every day of the week. Have you branded your sites? What is the single thing that you would want to get your sign recognized with? Have you ever planned something spontaneous like a marketing strategy like this?! Let me know!