The iBlog5 Experience
A few weeks ago, I learned of the iBlog5 over at Dexter’s Techathand.net. I immediately contacted my friend, the Third World Geek, and asked him if he wanted to sign up. “No problem” he said. In our 3++ years of blogging anonymously, this time we decided to give this blogging summit a try. The iBlog5 event (May 9, 2009 at the Malcolm Hall of UP Diliman) was the first real blogging event that that we’ve attended.
I woke up early to fetch my friend. We wanted to be one of the first registrants so as not to miss the freebies. (Yay, we’re PGBs here!) I also wanted to see how UP Diliman looks like. Having graduated from UP High in Cebu 18 years ago, I just heard tales from my classmates who went there to study in the Diliman Campus. The Campus is huge. I saw familiar names of the buildings, similar to the section names in our High School. There were joggers too, and they reminded me to shape up. That’s how early we were.
We sat somewhere at the left back portion of the hall. We obviously avoided the gaze of the emcee so as not to be called on stage to give brief introductions of ourselves. It really reminded me of high school (again), wherein only the brave will raise their hands, while the rest lower their heads, and when called, would require some push from seatmates. I don’t remember any of those who introduced themselves. Forgive my memory.
Spottings – These bloggers listed here are either in the blogroll of one my many blogs or I happened to have interacted with them by leaving comments in one or plenty of their posts. I did not approach them. I suck at offline networking, or shall I say, there wasn’t enough time.
1. Sexy Mom Dine – We’re a few seats apart.
2. Dexter of Tech At Hand – He’s with his wife and they’re a few rows in front of me.
3. Carlo Ople – Yeah, he was there in the afternoon and sat at the stairs at the center-back portion.
4. Jenny of Marriage and Beyond – Sonnie introduced me to Jeff, Jen’s husband.
5. Snow of Dear Bloggery – I regret of not approaching her group early in the morning or during lunchtime. I thought you’d stay throughout the event.
6. Marhgil Macuha – my idol in SEO was there. He brought along with him his wife and I also saw his car. Was it the one he mentioned in his saved by adsense post?
7. Noemi of Aboutmyrecovery.com – She’s the timekeeper.
Meeting the faces behind the blogs – I was glad to have met these guys.
1. Sonnie Santos – We’ve interacted online since 2006, I think. Although he knows me of the pseudonym I used, Iblog5 enabled us to finally meet in person. At first, I was hesitant to approach him. Had he not returned for the afternoon session, it could have been another missed opportunity.
2. The Cebu Bloggers – Xerxes, Kevin, Agnes, Aileen, Jorich and the others. Glad that you guys came. I hope you enjoyed the event.
3. Mon, Roy and Zorlone – Serious-looking guys actually. I approached them and introduced myself during the afternoon break. When I first saw Roy in the morning, I already knew it was him. Thanks to his avatar pic! I mistook Zorlone for another blogger. My apologies, Doc!
4. Randy of the Daily Contributor – we met during lunchtime. Sorry I forgot the name of the other guy who was with you.
5. Jeff – Jen’s beloved half of Marriage and Beyond.
6. Peter Juan – The guy used to be on the driving seat of i.ph.
7. Cathy – an HR practitioner introduced to me by Sonnie. We swapped iblog5 shirts as I got M while she got XL. Thanks, Cath! (sorry I didn’t get your URL)
8. Janette Toral – Had Third World Geek and I decided to skip the after-event party, we would have missed an opportunity of chatting with Janette. At first, we saw her moving from table to table. When the Cebu bloggers arrived, she approached our table. It was really nice talking to you, Ms. Janette. I assure you of my support for the top 10 emerging influential blogs of 2009. I already have names in mind.
The organizers must have thought that we’re gate crashers (LOL!) in the after-event party. We didn’t don the Iblog5 shirts we won in the raffle. We also left our ID’s in the car. There were only two of us in the table that can accommodate ten. Atty JJ was kind enough to ask us if we were participants of Iblog5. Didn’t we look like bloggers? Hehe.
Overall, I think the event was a success, and I can’t wait for iblog6. Kudos to Atty JJ Disini, Janette Toral and the rest of the sponsors and organizers! The 101 and 102 things were very helpful to newbies. The afternoon sessions were helpful to the non-newbies. Video and mobile blogging interests me. But I don’t want to appear on a video. Podcasting? No. I sound like a ten-year old boy on a mic.
Ok, that’s my iBlog5 experience! What’s yours?
p.s. I wished Jan, Elmot, Jessie, Vince Cyril and Bloggista were there. Here’s what the other were saying about the event, as copied from Roy (with my plenty of additions):
(Baskville)
Popularity: 37% [?]
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May 11th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Sayang, we did not meet in the iBLOG 5 event. I was at the back together with Jehz. I arrived late though around 3pm (almost forgot it if not for Jehz) and have to leave early to meet a friend in Glorietta.
I’m hoping to meet more bloggers soon including you in the next iBLOG event.
May 11th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Tyrone, i think i saw your group when you entered the back. i was there too standing beside the cameraman.
May 11th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
those were quite a list of names. you were able to make the rounds
next year, I won’t be hesitating approaching other bloggers
May 11th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
roy, i think the list here is not enough. I waited for the afternoon to start my move, and it’s too late. there will be next time. and i hope we get invitations from Janette for more blogging events.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
wow! problogger na gid kamo ni thirdworldgeek a.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Sayang nga lang at we did not meet personally..anyway next time.. siguro sa iblog 6 kasi on May 22 i will be back in saudi. it was indeed a great event
May 11th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
glads, ang layo pa namin sa problogger status. sana umattend ka din. kaw ha dami mo na ring raket. problogger na problogger gid ah!
dex, yeah next time!
May 11th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Nice meeting you too! May gani ni approach ka nako kay kung wa pa, mag-expect mi nga kami ray taga-Cebu ato nga event.
May 11th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Had I known who you were referring to, then I would have given my most informal greetings. LOL
I guess it pays to have a picture of yourself glaring at the readers. he he he. Anyway, I’m 3 months old in the blogosphere with a small niche, so that’s probably why I look “lost.” It was only because of Roy, Mon, and Snow that I was able to mingle with other bloggers in the summit.
It was nice meeting you and I shall pay back the mention by linking you in my list.
Z
May 11th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
nice meeting you, kevin! kita-kita ra sad gud mga taga cebu.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:23 am
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May 12th, 2009 at 5:29 am
Z,i have a picture of myself in this site. too small though, with all the other accessories that would still hide me. LOL.
keep on blogging! maybe you’d soon spread your blogging empire like that of Roy. sorry if i won’t be able to visit your site more often. blogspots are banned from where i usually access.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
makasuya man mo sir vonx oi..mau pamo
May 12th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
lhurey, sometimes we need to have little break and hangout offline with fellow bloggers.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
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May 13th, 2009 at 1:07 am
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May 13th, 2009 at 3:27 am
I was swimming in Batangas bro. Sayang yung mga freebies ano. Hehe.
May 13th, 2009 at 3:39 am
i received your text message bro, kaso i couldn’t send my reply. we would have wanted to pay for our additional food orders but the organizers informed us to charge it to them na lang. there were few people who came to the after-event party. so kasya pa sa budget nila.
May 13th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Quite interesting. Blogging has seemed to have caught the attention of event advertisers that these activities are loaded with so generous prizes.
Although, I would have to do my first appearance to a blogging meet-up yet
May 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am
you should have been here, cy! new media has practically caught the attention of the business world.
May 14th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Awww, sayang hindi kita na-meet. Sabi ko na nga ba isa ka dun sa mga taga-Cebu. Anyways, may next time pa naman.
Sorry po kung napaaga ang uwi ko. May highschool reunion kasi akong natanguan eh. Next time bro, next time… ^_^
p.s next din, pa-pic tayo ha? ^_^
May 15th, 2009 at 1:45 am
ddto d i ka? ka nice oi..
aehheh!
by the way… a special concert for you mom…
http://databis.blogspot.com/2009/05/on-company-of-mom-mothers-day-special.html
May 16th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
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May 17th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
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May 20th, 2009 at 7:59 am
haven’t posted about the iblog yet.
this is my new address, by the way.
May 22nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
hi aileen! thanks for dropping by! You’re still using the same theme?
June 12th, 2009 at 8:54 am
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June 12th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
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