Looking Back to Retell My Story

".....tell me a bit about yourself, what your interests and passions are, and what your schedule is like (...do you already have a full-time job you're happy with? How many hours per day can you work?) and add me on Skype....."

My very first experience in writing for others was when I contributed a few articles to a tech magazine starting 2004, but had written for our school newspaper while in college, and church newspaper while still looking for a job after graduating in 2003. 

My last job as an employee was working for the United Nations as their ICT officer in 2005. After only 3 years, believing I've earned enough, I setup my own tech-related business (gaming shop and tech services like repairs, networking, maintenance, etc) in 2008, but it ended abruptly only after a year when typhoon Ondoy flooded our business. Everything went under the murky flood waters in a matter of hours.

I started blogging since 2008 while I reopened my business, but only on a personal level, then went into blogging professionally (full time) by 2013 when I got so many invites to attend events like product launchings, press conferences, bloggers events, product reviews and media partnerships. I closed my ga me business that time and concentrated on providing online services. Monetizing my blog was a lot more promising since many businesses were strengthening their online presence.

This was only after I became a voluntary correspondent for a popular online publication for around 6 months back 2012. The short stint with them as senior writer opened up a lot of opportunities for me as the invites kept coming in. I left them to setup my own online publication in 2013.

Eventually got so many awards and recognitions from different award-giving bodies, got invited to guests on TV and radio shows, co-hosted a few radio shows, got some speaking engagements, and lately had my own radio show with livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube for one season (13 episodes) that ended just last month. It was not as profitable compared to running an online publication.

I was offered to host my own TV show too, but is thinking twice since I prefer writing instead of setting up my own lifestyle show...and the real reason is - the co-production cost and search for sponsorships may be too much to handle. :)

Thus, right now, the only thing that keeps me busy, as of the moment, is my blog, my family (with a daughter that is also the Editor-in-Chief of her college newspaper), and worrying about the recent rampant killings in the Philippines, especially now that there are youths being killed as well. 

I usually blog (including social media postings) and rants, from morning until midnight...but is of course looking to contribute again for publications that pay. It will be an additional source of income aside from accepting sponsored articles with backlinks on my site, and the numerous media partnerships.

I can write about almost anything since I am fairly curious about everything. I get challenged by deadlines, but prefer to take my time since artists need more time to connect with our moody creativity :)

The last time I used Skype was way back 2003 when I got interviewed for a job. In the Philippines, we now chat more on Facebook instead. But I would be willing to open a new account again (since I don't remember my existing account's password anymore) if needed.

Crowdsourcing for Lei of PNA

I think there's going to be an opening soon at the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Well, a certain Lei might be needing some help with the editing process as he or she even accidentally published the editor's comments and instructions as part of the title for their articles.

Somebody was indeed in a hurry,  rushing for the deadline, or simply that the task of final release was assigned to a newbie.

However,  immediately after a few netizens took notice of the mistake,  the article quickly went down and the site suddenly went under maintenance.

Do they need a new Editor-in-Chief?  Or do they have a new publishing platform?

Who knows because I haven't reached out to them to get their side of the issue.

The hell with us!  It was a simple mistake.  They must be busy working on deadlines down, or up, there especially that the administration is in deep shit with all the youth killings by cops, Pulong and Mans involvement in smuggling (shabu?) and that dragon tattoo supposedly linking the Davao Vice Mayor to the Chinese triad, and also how they made September 11 a non-working holiday to commemmorate the birthday of a late dictator.

By the way, anybody knows who Lei is?

I'm sure he or she can shed light to all these questions. This is not a serious issue though. Just a technical glitch, perhaps. But poking fun and aggravating issues to greater proportions is what majes articles sell,  especially on a slow day when we've written all that needs to be written about EJK.

Immune Ba Ang VIP Sa Tokhang?

VIP lang ang exempted sa Tokhang.

Kahit pa drug lord, kung maraming pera naman, sa Malacanang pa iimbitahan iyan. Pero kung ikaw ay dukha, malamang patay ka na at sasabihing nanlaban, nakipag-putukan o nang-agaw ng baril.

"Walang kahihitnan ang War on Drugs na iyan. Ang problema ng bansa ay mga gahaman na pulitiko na hinahayaang sa iilan lamang napupunta ang oportunidad at biyaya. Mga inutil na ahensiya ng gobyerno na mas pinapaboran ang mga korporasyon at oligarch.

Mabibilang mo kung sino-sino ang mga natatanging "Anak ng Diyos" dito sa Pilipinas - mga mayayamang pamilya na pag-aari na halos buong bansa.

At ang kakulangan sa edukasyon para matuto ang lahat. Kaya hinahayaang nilang maging mangmang ang mga tao ay para di sila maging mapanuri. Maabutan lang ng kaunting halaga o groceries, akala mo superhero na yung nagbigay.

Kailangang matuto ng tao para malaman kung sino ang tamang taong mamumuno sa atin. Hindi yung kung sino lang ang may kayang gumastos ng milyon-milyon, pero Hindi naman qualified. Walang alam kundi magpa-cute sa camera. Sadyang photo ops lang ang habol para masulat sa dyaryo na namimigay kunwari ng tulong.

Saan pa ba nila babawiin ang kanilang ginastos kundi sa kaban ng bayan. Sino ba naman ang maglalabas ng malaking pera para lang maglingkod eh magagawa naman natin yun kahit wala tayo sa pwesto.

Once na magkaroon ng posisyon sa gobyerno, akala mo VIP na sa lahat ng pagtitipon. Eh di ba public servant sila, so taong bayan dapat ang umupo sa magarbong silya.

Kahit ano pa sabihin nila, may motibong iba ang mga iyan. Lalo na ngayon maraming drama dahil malapit na naman ang eleksyon. Siguradong maraming pasabog na naman tayong mababalitaan."

Ang VIP treatment at hindi dapat napupunta sa mga public servants. Sila dapat ang nagbibigay sa atin ng special tender loving care and attention.

Kapag dumarating tayo, hindi dapat tayo pinaghihintay. Hoy, yung forced tax contribution ko ang nagpapasweldo sa inyo. Ako dapat ang nauunang pinagsisilbihan!

Tanga lang kasi ang peg ng karamihan. Nakakalimutan na tayo dapat ang boss at hindi yung ating binoto.

The PCOO Is Not Stupid!

On the contrary, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is not weak or stupid.  It just doesn't have enough good news to share to rise above the rising fact that DUTERTE IS A MASS MURDERER.

The only way they could disseminate something positive is by fabricating news. Sadly, they are not fiction writers.

If it comes out directly from the President's dirty mouth, how is PCOO going to twist and turn that to something positive or beneficial to them?

Hey, I can't possibly blog that Duterte is humane, when I hear him encouraging everyone to kill, lambast foreign allies, joke about raping women, lawyering for the Marcos family,  defending erring cops, and cursing the opposition. Do we even talk about his failure to do what he promised during campaign period....and what seems to be trivial like declaring Marcos' birthday as a non-working holiday in Ilocos, we know that the issue here is thicker than any layered cake you can bake.

When you try to make me come up with something good out of nothing, I might as well resign and write about showbiz chismis instead. At least in showbiz,  everyone knows it's all make believe and everyone is acting.

Bloggers should counter all these effort to depict him as our saviour. There are now movements trying to justify his deplorable statements and actions. We need to be critical enough to distinguish between fact and fiction.

Duterte has been digging graves ever since he entered politics, do not let him put us underground even with the promise of a luxurious coffin and a band playing our favorite songs.

Oh, but I blog about the accomplishments of his agencies, but the proliferation of fake news by his followers mostly hiding behind the anonimity of social media is upsetting.

Build Me An App To Replace Business Cards

Print is dead? But why do we still need to print business cards?

Even the tabloids, broadsheets, and magazines are closing down. The only reason they are still here is because they belong to a bigger network of businesses who still find print media as influential and prestigious eventhough they've lied about their readership justvto attract or keep advertisers.  I see more of these prints as "pambalot ng tinapa" rather than being read.

But even radio and television are extinct to the eyes of Millenials. Just finished chatting with a college student and confirmed he has never watched TV all his life except for a few glances. His daily source of information is online.

Exchanging business cards among new acquaintances has also been a culture. Thus, it is nothing more but a formality. You'll see yourself setting aside those cards once you have his email and contact number on your phone.

I've been wondering why someone has not yet developed an app that would automatically get my contact information from my smartphone and send them over via Bluetooth, wifi, NFR,  or any other technology. to the other person's smartphone.

That would surely be cool.

Gamma Partners with Viber for Optimised Ad Formats

Gamma forges strategic partnership with Viber to bring optimised ad formats to brands, agencies and media buyers in Asia

Collaboration will see Viber gain immediate access to a single integrated platform for global demand and efficient monetisation of inventory

Gamma today announced a strategic partnership with Viber that will provide high quality, optimised and interactive ads to brands, agencies and media buyers in Asia. Gamma’s SSP platform will raise more demand for Viber’s premium inventory programmatically, through hundreds of ad partners and networks.

By utilising Gamma’s proprietary technology and premium inventory, agencies can access display and video ads on both mobile, desktop and applications that can significantly increase their brand presence.

Dirk Jacobs, Managing Director, Gamma said: “Asia is increasingly becoming digitalised, and consumers have fueled the growth of cross platform consumption for advertisements. We are thrilled to be working with leading communications provider Viber to ensure that their inventory are fully optimised and achieving their monetisation goals together.”

Gamma previously announced partnerships with MediaMath and POKKT to increase programmatic ad yield for publishers as well as to provide advertisers access to premium ad space in Asia.

Learn more about Gamma’s digital advertising offerings at www.gammassp.com.

Behold the Yamaha Sight

Yamaha Motor Philippines Inc. launches the Yamaha Sight which is a clear indication of the brand’s vision for the industry. The new motorcycle is an expression of efficiency, simplicity, and performance. What makes this machine even more special is its Fuel Injection that gives improved acceleration. The performance F.I. technology of Yamaha maximizes not just efficiency; it releases the full potential of the machine. The Yamaha sight is also equipped with a disc brake. This creates excellent rigidity balance in combination with the special brake pads helping provide braking force proportional to the rider’s input. The overall sharp design of this new machine is stunning because of the dynamically flowing lines that really catch your eye. The active color graphics presents a magnificent style that striking and captivating.

It has a 115cc air cooled engine that has a new fuel injection system that contributes to an improved feeling of acceleration. The adoption of a spiny sleeve with excellent cooling properties contributes to a more stable performance. An easy-to-read instrument panel design with gear-position indicator gives the rider an effortless experience.

The Yamaha Sight includes and abundance of features. The sharp headlight is equipped with a bright incandescent bulb that gives a clear view of the road. And on the other end, a sporty tail light illuminates from behind. The Stylistically designed Aluminum Grab Bar gives form and function. Its 9L compartment is compact enough to carry tools or travel size items. You can rest easy with the anti-theft technology of the key shutter that assures access to the motorcycle is only for the key holder. The muffler is complete with a protector and gives off a pleasing exhaust note. The 4L tank capacity gives excellent range for travel.

The Yamaha Sight has an SRP of 59,900 for the spoke wheel edition that is available in Black Raven and Red Metallic. The Cast wheel version has an SRP of 62,900 and is available in Yellow Hornet and Black Raven colours. You can find it in all Yamaha 3S Shops and Multi-brand stores nationwide.

Technical Specifications

ENGINE

Engine type - Air-cooled 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve

Cylinder layout - Single cylinder Bore x Stroke - 50.0 × 57.9 mm

Compression Ratio - 9.3:1

Displacement - 114 cc

Maximum Power - 6.4 kW @ 7,000 r/min

Maximum Torque - 9.5 N•m @ 5,500 r/min

Starter System - Electric and Kick Starter Lubrication system - Wet sump

Engine Oil Capacity - 1.0 L

Fuel System - Fuel injection

Clutch Type - Wet, Centrifugal, Shoe and Multiple-Disc

Transmission Type - Constant mesh, 4-speed

Gear Ratios - 1st= 2.833 (34/12) 2nd= 1.875 (30/16) 3rd= 1.353 (23/17) 4th= 1.045 (23/22)

DIMENSION

Length X Width X Height - 1,940 mm × 715 mm × 1,075 mm

Wheelbase - 1,235 mm

Minimum Ground Clearance - 155 mm

Seat Height - 775 mm Curb Weight (with oil & full fuel tank) - 96 kg

Fuel Tank Capacity - 4.0 L

FRAMEWORK

Frame Type - Backbone

Front Suspension - Telescopic

Rear Suspension - Swingarm

Front Tire - 70/90-17 M/C 38P (Tube type)

Rear Tire - 80/90-17 M/C 44P (Tube type)

Front Brake - Disc Brake (Hydraulic Single Disc)

Rear Brake - Drum Brake (Mechanical Leading Trailing)

Headlight - 12V, 32/32Wx1

Meter Panel - Analogue with Gear Indicator

ELECTRICAL

Ignition System - TCI (Transistor Control Ignition

Battery Type - 12V / 3 Ah / NTZ4V

Ilabas Ang Dragon Ni Paolo Duterte

"Some of the Duterte fanatics would scoff at the relevance of the tattoo not knowing that in China (triads) and Japan (Yakuza, the Japanese mafia), tattoos are strictly required to become a member of these secretive crime groups. It also symbolizes rank and stature. The more tattoos the higher the rank. It is also an effective way in hunting out a rat (police asset) and a traitor #BasaBasaPagMayTime" - Paolo Angelo Florenda

Davao Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte should have just shown his tattoo, rumored to be a dragon and symbolizing his connection with a triad, at the Senate hearing.

Invoking his right to refuse to answer to avoid self-incrimination was what we were waiting for to prove he indeed has something to hide. We all know that when you can't speak entirely about everything, there is the intent to hide and deceive.

There are no cute dragons inspite of how many times children's cartoons or storybooks depicts some as cuddly and sweet. And though they are more likely fictional, their representations signifies more than just a drawing or animation to instill some sort of strength, or bring fear to those who sees them.

The Game of Thrones TV series has some of scenes about dragons, but we don't see them in every episode. Mainly because they are expensive to produce through CGI effects.

Likewise, unlike ex-cons or tattoo enthusiasts, some would never show off their tattoos if it serves as their entry to an exclusive group.


Naiiintindihan ko kung bakit maraming bashers sila Trillanes, Hontiveros, etc.,

Sila lang kasi yung matatapang na handang kalabanin ang mga kalokohan nila DU30.

Lubos-lubusan ang paninira ng iba. Instead na maglabas sila ng galit laban sa kanila, patunayan na lang nila na mali sila. Puro dakdak, wala namang ebidensiya.

At least sila Trillanes may mga testimonials coming from other people. When you invoke your right to refuse to answer to avoid self-incrimination, it only means you are hiding something and do not intend to tell the whole truth.

Yung mga detractors like Gordon, mas kapani-paniwala sana kayo kung about the issue ang kinokontra ninyo kaysa puro mura at paninira sa pagkatao lang.


What's the point of appearing at the Senate when you won't cooperate and answer every question? Di hintayin na lang nila na mag-file ng case laban sa kanila. Saves the taxpayers' money, wala pang sindakan o pataasan ng ere among the personalities involved. They just want exposure from the media.

Masarap Ba Ang Cooking Ng Ina Mo?

"Nakakaloka... di talaga nawawala ang cooking ng ina...sa pageant.. magic sarap ang peg ng sahog ng show" - Jao Arcano Ko

That was one of the hilarious comments given after an apparent expose of irregularities happening at a certain beauty pageant.

I've heard of similar stories since we can see that these kind of events have become a profitable business already.

You'll hear several forms of beauty and talent searches ongoing and coming up every year whether they are newly-crafted or a franchise of an international version.

There would be others who have even sold their creations or franchise and created new ones afterwards.

It's all about who gets to acquire or attract sponsors for their pageant. The more supporting brands, the better for both candidates and organizers.

However, there would always be rumors how money or profitability would still outshine any effort to find the truly deserving winners.

Hahaha! Kahit saan naman may niluluto. Dagdag-bawas sa sahog, timpla at maging sa mga sandok, kutsara, tinidor at kung anu-ano pa, dahil in the end, everything is still business as usual. Kailangang kumita kahit sa adbokasiya.

Kaya hindi ako bilib ng 100% sa mga kaganapan sa mundong ito. Foundation, outreach, NGO, charity institution, CSR program, public service, lokal man yan o UN, at kahit ano pang churva, may kumikita pa rin behind the scenes.

Maraming pagpapanggap, pero tanggapin na ganyan na talaga. Bihira na may makakadaupang-palad ka na pure ang intentions, dahil lahat tayo ay may pangangailangan - sobra-sobra lang ang pagkagahaman ng iba kaya nagiging obvious masyado.

At syempre, kapag may natalo o naagrabyado, may maglalabasang baho - putok man yan o bad breath, maaamoy rin yan, dahil kahit anong pigil ang gawin mo, lalabas pa rin eventually yang utot sa puwit mo!

Marjorie Ann Artes of Caniogan is 2017 Mutya Ng Pasig

I made it half-way to the announcement of Mutya ng Pasig 2017 winners.

The Top 5 finalists assured of titles were candidates 5 (Rose Ann Mendros of Barangay Dela Paz), 7 (Karen Nicole Kiang of Barangay Kalawaan), 8 (Princess Jessamine Samson of Barangay Sumilang), 9 (Karen Baldoza of Barangay Sumilang) and 10 (Marjorie Ann Artes of Barangay Caniogan) who emerged as grand winner and hailed as the 2017 Mutya ng Pasig.

The other titles are Mutya Ng Pasig-Kalikasan, Mutya Ng Pasig-Kalikasan Kalinga, Diwata Ng Pasig and Lakambini Ng Pasig.

I went up on stage to take both photo and video selfies with the new queens and also asked them to do the iconic Wazzup Pilipinas shout-out.

My exclusive interview with the grand winner already has more than 16K views on Facebook, while the other videos from the coronation night are not as viral. I also have a short message from the mayor of Pasig herself, Ms Maribel Eusebio. You can check them out at http://www.Facebook.com/WazzupPilipinas

Also got photo selfies with the mayor and her husband, also a former mayor of the city, Robert "Bobby" Eusebio.

Hosting the grand coronation night is Robi Domingo and Aya Fernandez, Miss Teen Earth and Little Miss Earth Philippines 2015.

 #WazzupPilipinas #PambansangBlogger #MutyaNgPasig2017