Aftermath of the DigitalFilipino.com Club and Bloggers Networking Event Manila in PAGCOR

I, Chris A. (Oh my! sounds too serious) have attended the successful DigitalFilipino.com Club and Bloggers Networking Event Manila (*gasp for air*) in PAGCOR's (Philippine amusement and Gaming Corporation) Forum Hall, Casino Filipino, PIRC Bldg. Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Parañaque City.

The event started of with each blogger introducing their selves (blog URL, Company or business, and about them). There were also various companies present in the event besides bloggers which I can't remember them all but mostly are associated in the field of cosmetics, business and marketing, and newspaper publication. After the "get to know the Bloggers" portion comes a short clipping about the history, the mission, and the plans of PAGCOR. One of the main things that caught my attention in the clip were the future plans of PAGCOR in developing the "Bagong Nayong Filipino" which will make a majestic entertainment and gaming city which features modernized transportation, entertainment, gaming facilities and a lot more.



Rena Elena passing the introduction mic to Heyo Kity



Azrael's introduction.




I attentively listens but my mind wonders hahahaha.



Countdown to my doom...



My friend Vin doing his introductions. Good thing Az forgot to capture me doing my nusual hand gestures as I explain myself hehehe



..The educational clip about PAGCOR








Networking Top 100 and everything more discussed by Ms. Janette Toral (http://www.janettetoral.com/)



Ederic Eder, One of the top blogger in ratified discusses his "accidental" secrets

Dinner was served and everyone grabbed various scrumptious serving of meet, soup and more (uhm! uhm! uhm! Do I have to even mention this? hehehe). Ms. Janette Toral (thanks to her I came to know this event) briskly announces and showed the top 100 bloggers who made it big in Ratified.org and asked some of these bloggers to share how they able to achieve the "top" status. Mainly, the mentioned bloggers didn't expected to be listed as one of the top performing blogs in the blogosphere. Also, they shared that content will always be the key for a good (or great) traffic and what makes readers from coming back for more.



Delicious meal courtesy of PAGCOR. did I mention it's free? hehehehe



Chris A. Digging in.



Chris A. is still obviously hungry as he stares down(at the meal) at the guy sitting next to him while he eat his part hehehe


After the discussion, An intermission number courtesy of PAGCOR's very own Maricel Cruz stunned the crowed with her soothing and lovely voice. She performed four songs which includes "The Way You Look Tonight", "Wonderful World", "Bukas na Lang Kita Mamahalin", and "Sway".








Maricel cruz sings for the Bloggers


Lastly, PAGCOR's management conducted a small raffle draw giving away free money coupons which can only be use for casino and poker games outside the Forum Hall. A previous freebies were given earlier to all the bloggers which include a coupon or gc redeemable for that day alone and an issue of "HIGH PROFILE" (The Magazine of PAGCOR)Issue 1 of Fall 2008.





Raffled and Giveaways to awaken the "inner gambler" in you Hehehe





Bloggers Mingle after the Event



Look at how I mingle Hahahaha

The event officially ended at around 10:00 in the evening but some of the bloggers still continued to socialize (including yours truly) and met some old and new friends. This is the first time I had gone to a blogger event and I can say that it will be the start of many more birthdays (dhuh!).. I mean, many more blog networking events to come.



Chris A. and Azrael

I would like to specially mention some of my new acquaintances and friends:

Anthony Cruz ( http://tonyocruz.com/ )
Ederic Eder ( http://edericeder.com/ )
Gladys Barrer ( http://fromtheheartandmind.blogspot.com/ )
Ada ( http://adaphobic.com/ )

Special Thanks to Azrael Coladilla for letting me grab his captured moments of the special event. You can view his post about the DigitalFilipino.com Club and Bloggers Networking Event Manila - Here -

For a more personal approach of yourstruly chris A. you can also visit my personal Blog here @ Life on a Pencil's Chris A.'s First Blogging Event in PAGCOR

Snow Tubing in the 28th Annual Dickens of a Christmas Celebration

Festivities and celebrations has always been a time for families to bond and unwind. and one of this upcoming celebrations is the upcoming 28th Annual Dickens of a Christmas Festival in McKinney, Texas. The "McKinney Dickens" is a perfect start to welcome the holiday season with its old fashioned Victorian atmosphere packed with various Christmas and family activities for everyone.



Snow Tubing is one of the many events held in McKinney Dickens.

Texas Christmas may not feature snow but snow "will" come solely for the Dickens Christmas this coming 28, 29, and 30th of November. A snow tubbing hill will be set in the square in all three days of the occasion. If you and your family are fond of tubing on snow but can't make it to the snowy mountains these upcoming holiday season, then why not try and enjoy the McKinney Dickens of a Christmas's tubing hill.

Enjoy the holiday season with the Dickens of a Christmas Festival in McKinney, Texas. Visit their official page here for schedule, offerings and other events.

The DigitalFilipino.com Club and Bloggers Davao Networking Event

Chris A. here again with another Author Updates. CMAQUEST will be attending and covering the upcoming DigitalFilipino.com Club and Bloggers Manila Networking Event this Saturday, October 25, 2008. This is what is the what the event is all about:

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The DigitalFilipino.com Club is organizing a fellowship/networking event where e-commerce industry players and bloggers can catch up and exchange updates. This will be on October 25, Saturday, 6 to 11 pm at Forum Hall, Casino Filipino, PIRC Bldg. Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Parañaque City.

This event is sponsored by our club member PAGCOR.

6:00 - 7:00 Registration and Dinner
7:00 - 7:30 Guest introduction / plugs
7:30 - 8:00 Updates by Janette

* DigitalFilipino Web Awards 2008
* DigitalFilipino.com Club Updates (online workshop and other efforts)
* Ratified.org Philippines Top 100 Blogs 2008 (blogs that had big moves in 2008)

8:00 - 8:30 - PAGCOR launch Internet/E-Commerce project
8:30 - onwards - Raffle, Networking, Games

For more informations and reservations for interested Filipino and nearby-Bloggers in Manila, visit their blog site here:

http://digitalfilipinoclub.blogspot.com/
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This will be a double featured post here in CMAQUEST: An Entertainment and Magazine Blog and my personal blog Life on a Pencil (http://lifeonapencil.blogspot.com).

The Chinese New Year of the Rat

( ~ C-Special Feature )

China has been a part of Philippines history...

Even before the Spaniards reigned tyrannically; Japanese enslave, murdered and conquered; and Americans bought and falsely made everyone believe that they save the Philippines... there were the peaceful Chinese who traded with the early Filipinos. By their peaceful ways, the early Filipinos whole heartedly welcome the Chinese traders who later established a Chinese Community or "China Town" in Manila. The Chinese people found a new home and a place for business here in the Philippines. Through the long years of their stay here, interrelation and mixed of cultures was inevitable. Filipinos adopted their culture and beliefs and the Chinese also adopted our language and culture as well.



Early Filipinos Bartered with the Chinese.
Images from http://www.philonline.com.ph/~kaisa/khc_btsinoy.html

One of these adopted culture which the Chinese Community celebrates every year is the Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is celebrated differently from the common New Year that every country celebrates as a New Year Enters. According to Wikipedia Chinese New Year starts on the first day of the new year containing a new moon and ends on the Lantern Festival fourteen days later.



The Emergence of Chinese community
Images from http://www.philonline.com.ph/~kaisa/khc_btsinoy.html

From the past experiences and observations I had through the years the following are commonly seen in the Chinese New Year Celebration...

Dragon and Lion Dances




Dragon Dance



Lion Dance

Loud beats of drums and deafening sounds of cymbals accompanied by the Dragon and Lion Dances are believed to drive evil spirits out.

Lucky Charms





Good Luck Charms and Decorations are all over the place. This are to negate the negative effects and drive the positive energy into one's home or establishment. If you're year is not compatible with the current Animal Year or element then Feng Shui Experts suggests you take one of these charms.


The Delicacies



Tikoy(upper left) and Moon Cake(lower right)



Tikoy is known as a Chinese New Year Pudding and is made up of glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, salt, water, and sugar. Sticky and sweet by nature, it is said that having this on every table will further hold and keep the bond of the family members towards each other.

Mooncakes are round or rectangular pastries, measuring about 10 cm in diameter and 4-5 cm thick. A thick filling usually made from lotus seed paste is surrounded by a relatively thin (2-3 mm) crust and may contain yolks from salted duck eggs. Mooncakes are rich, heavy, and dense compared with most Western cakes and pastries.


The Chinese New Year for this year is celebrated this day February 07, 2008 the year of the Earth Rat according to the Chinese Zodiac...



1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox.



The Rat year is a year of plenty, bringing opportunity and good prospects. It will be marked by speculation and fluctuations in the prices of commodities and the stock market; the world economy in general will boom. Business will be on the upswing, fortunes can be made and it will be an easy time to accumulate wealth. However, this is also the time to make long-term investment plans as the bonanza the year of the Rat brings will serve to see us through the bleak years that may follow. All ventures begun at this time will be successful if one prepares well. But do not take chances or unnecessary risks: the year of the Rat is still ruled by the cold of winter and the darkness of night. Those who speculate indiscriminately and overextend themselves will come to a sad reckoning.



On the whole, this will be a happier year than most: free from explosive events and wars and with far less catastrophes than, say, the years of the Tiger or the Dragon.

Nonetheless, it will be spicy. It promises a lot of bickering, bargaining and petty arguments that will do little harm. A congenial time that will find most of us socializing and enjoying ourselves.

An Aftermath: 5th Annual Manila Comics Seminar

Last Saturday and Sunday, that is October 27 and 28, I attended Glass House Graphics' 5th Annual Manila Comics Seminar.

Met a lot of great Artist who inspired me to once again pursue art and continue it not as just a hobby but an opportunity as a career.

A Heartwarming real life story of Mr. Bong Dazo, who is a proud artist, endured every obstackles and what made me idolized him more is his own experience of his mother's death while he was still doing artworks for Glass House, and after that his attitude towards his work changed. "Never be a wise ass" and "the show must go on" are the lines he frequently emphasized during his talk and I thank him for giving that helpful tip that I will use and apply in my life and someday if (possible) I am lucky enough to enter the world of professional comics

After his speech, Mr. Dazo humbly stepped down and proceeded to the Power Books booth in the conference hall. I approached him, inspired by his life and work and ask for an autograph... The odd part is that he asked "Baket?"(Why)... and I don't know what did I say that time, a murmur perhaps? saying "Got inspired of you're work and life(referring to his turning point experience)" well he grabbed the GHG give away booklet, and as usual my being an otaku or fan kicked in and said to him "Uhm sir, pwede pu ba pasulat ng name nyu at sa itaas yung signature?" ("Sir, Can you blace you're name and signature on top") - Hahaha after that it is like I was asking him to fill up a bio data or resume where that style of "signature over printed name" thing. The odd part is he said "I know, why don't you write down your address and I will sent you a original (dunno what? comics or signature, any is very much welcome) via fedex (or some courier)" I answered "Really?" and I eagerly wrote down the address... Hope I got it right, I am kinda disturbed after that because did I place the "ñ" on "Dasmariñas" or did I wrote down "Dasmarinas".... and I don't know the our zip code.... waaahhhh Hope (if he sends it) it will not get lost ahuhuhu... but well, rubbing shoulders with him is a great pleasure for me already... the original is like overkill? hahaha or overjoy... My face will be like on that commercial ad of Splash Island... hehehe

"The Man" - Filipino and Great Artist Mr. Bong Dazo

Images and interview can be found from this site

For more Info and artworks of Bong Click on his face below hehehe

Thanks to Glass House Comics for introducing me to new artist (to me) for inspiration, also thanks to Azrael for the info about and directions to GHG 5th Annual Manila Comics Seminar and being so accomodating to the artist... I wonder why? Is it beacuae of the Organizer ID he was wearing? uhm I don't know... maybe? hehehehe just joking Az.

Discovering and Creating Great Artists.