Egosurfing "Pinoy Explorer"

When I registered my previous travel blog hosted in "ding-explore.blogspot.com" into its own dotcom now called www.thepinoyexplorer.com, I did not realize that there are two other "pinoy explorers" in the net.  One is hosted in blogspot.com and the other one is a Philippine TV program hosted by actor Aga Muhlach.  So this is my disclaimer that this similarities are purely unintentional.  I think the article "the" made the difference when I was registering, and I was the first one who registered my branding as "The Pinoy Explorer".  Besides, the other one is a TV program, and I do not intend to compete with them.

Anyway, worried that my dotcom might suffer from these similarities, it seems the other way around.  Perhaps, I, unintentionally, benefit from the online searches.   So I tried to egosurf. You see this is not for vanity's sake.  I am trying to find out how well www.thepinoyexplorer.com fares in the world wide web.  So here are the results of this egosurfing:

Yahoo search: The Pinoy Explorer places 2nd in page one (1).

Google search: The Pinoy Explorer places 4th, 5th, and 6th in page one (1)

I say, not bad for a start, right?

I think that there are four (4) factors that affect this trend:

1. My readers - who have been following The Pinoy Explorer over the past months since I resurrected it in May-June last year (2010).
2. Facebook - in Google search Facebook helped pump up my visibility,
3. Google Plus - I think a few Google+ it and there you go that made it appear in the search.
4. Cross-posting it in this blog - this blog is older and definitely has gained residency in SEO and cross-posting some of the articles in this blog is definitely a plus.  Take the article on Batanes' oldest house, for example.

In this regard, "thank you" is not enough, but just the same, I express my gratitude to all my readers and followers for the support!

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Explored!: Reloaded

Maintaining several blogs can be quite laborious, especially if you begin to suddenly face a writer's block--or worse, you have nothing to write about [because you feel that everyone is writing about it anyway] or simply you are dead beat or simply does not have anything to write at all.

I have wanting to blog every so often, but I was up for something that I have protracted for so long.  It is my travel blog called "Explored!"  This has been shelved for more than a year and it is only now that it is beginning to take its own pace and have its own following.  Unlike my Mono-logues blog, which has gained a relatively strong following, Explored! needed more push, which in the end, made this blog suffer.

Anyway, enough of ranting and justifying. I would just like to invite the readers of this blog to cross over Explored! for some stories about my travels. See you there!

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Inkblots is now tweeting!

I had a personal Twitter account but I deleted it because I thought I have been managing too many social networking accounts.  But then, I thought of using Twitter to gain more readership of my blogs which I am trying to revive after a self-imposed hibernation, particularly with my Explored! blog.

Blogging, I guess, is beginning to lose its popularity  because of Facebook.  I have returned to some of my favorite blogs, and there are fewer readers who are commenting on personal and even political blogs.  Some bloggers have even gone hibernation for a while, and some have even been shut down.

So I hope you follow me there and get the latest updates from my three blogs (this blog, Mono-logues, and Explored!).

Thank you for reading Inkblots: Life as it happens!

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Blogger template designer

I am glad I have gone back to Blogger format.  While trying to figure out how I can revise the CSS and HTML of my uploaded template, I found this link in the layout page.

For Blogger format users, there is a new feature through its Draft Blogger called Template Designer.  All you need is to make Draft Blogger your default blogger dashboard so that it will show.

Below are the features of this new function in Blogger format:

Click the "Template Designer" Link to bring you to the page.

Choose a template from the selection. At this point, there are four (4) designs where you can choose from. I just hope there would be more template options soon.

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I was wrong!

I must admit, I was wrong when I transferred my blog to another blog format.  I apologize for giving you a roundabout when it comes to my blogs!  My bad! But let me explain...

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My 129th post...what else to blog about?

This is my 129th post since I I had my first post last April 28, 2007. This blog was born on April 27, 2007. It is almost three (3) years since then!

I have covered several topics:

* Blogging and technology
* Development issues
* Public policy and governance
* Entertainment and the arts
* Culture and tradition
* Photography
* Psychology
* Work, and
* Other themes like Christmas and events.

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Profiting from blogging--finally!

Profiting from blogging--by putting up spaces for ads in my blog-- never crossed my mind. I just thought it would defeat the purpose of blogging and expressing, and aesthetics-wise, those flashing ads would just be a clutter. Honestly, too, my blog will not be sale-able since it does not enjoy the hits that would make any client interested in my blog. So I am enjoying my blog layout as spic-and-span as it can be. Forget the fraction of cents I would get from the clicks.

Anyway, I also wanted to make blogging more profitable. The reason why I started my travel blog, is to get clients who would get me into projects where I could enjoy both photography and blogging. I think I have an edge since I can write anything under the sun. The waiting seems too long. Besides, blogging took a back seat for almost two years, and regaining "popularity" and regaining old contacts from the blogosphere, would be almost impossible! Thanks to some flickr and facebook friends who occasionally drop by my blog.

When a project to manage a website came, I immediately grabbed the opportunity. It is once-in-a-blue-moon offer and thinking it would add spice to a rather monotonous work would make me a better person--and perhaps might lead me to a possible career change--maybe at this point is for some diversion of my excess creative juices. It is not blogging per se. Rather, it is a website management work. I love the idea of creating stories out of tons of materials made available to me, as well as coordinating with writers and beating deadlines. Not to mention learning the wordpress back end of the website.

Well, I might not enjoy the clicks that bring me dollars, or rather, cents, but I am enjoying the fact that I am doing something that I love--writing, blogging [read: website management], and photography--and finally earning from it.

You will never know when an opportunity like mine knocks at your door. So I am giving away some tips:

1. Build your network - you will never know who will approach you and and ask you to write for them
2. Improve on your writing--tackle the unpopular and noteworthy subject matter and refrain from writing on anything that can be read elsewhere (e.g. Michael Jackson's death, Manny Pacquiao bout, etc.) Why? Because it will make you a better and well-rounded writer, and will prepare you to tackle different stories and subject matter later on. The website I am working on is all about culture and development--something close to my work, but learning about culture and its ramifications becomes the challenging job.
3. Learn about website management/ learn about editorial/ management skills
4. Learn about web design (aesthetics for a start will do, but it is much better if you learn about SQL programming, CSS, HTML, etc.)
5. Enjoy blogging [read: writing] and have patience.
6. Advertise yourself. facebook is one effective tool.
7. Patience is a virtue. The web designing process itself is a tedious job. The designing and redesigning stage will drain you or your programmer, but it pays to be open to criticisms and make constructive ones, too. Do not forget to praise your programmer if he did a great job.
   

So I am just proud to announce about www.devcomsync.com--my pet project.

Hope you visit the site. Comments in the articles are most welcome!


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NEW HOME: Embracing Wordpress

Finally, I gave in to a new blogger format which I have always wanted to have. I am very much comfortable with the Blogger format which I am using here in this blog, but my new project (which I will share soon!) is on a WordPress format. I had no choice but to learn the tricks f the trade. And only when I was familiarizing myself with the buttons and all, did I only realize that WP has become more user-friendly like my first love, Blogger. Back in 2007, I found the WP really, really hard to use especially when you are still starting. I could not understand how the widgets work back then.

However, the Blogger format is still much easier because you can learn the CSS easily, as well as change the layout, which I do often, hoping that it will make a better-looking blog layout.

Anyway, since I have already thousands of views in this blog, I decided not to transfer them. Otherwise, all of the years I have worked on it will be lost.

So here are my new blogs:

MY HOME: which aggregates all my blogs and other websites:



and

EXPLORED! which is my travel blog:





















Hope to see you there!

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Photography 101: Other lessons learned

Earlier, I blogged about my first two (2) Explored photos in Yahoo! Flickr. This week, the rest just came out one after the other, and I was so happy about it. Why not? it landed in the Top 500 photos of the day they were uploaded. Some of them were already dropped since the ranking differs each day--depending on whether there are still people who view and comment on the photos--and when they are dropped, that means they lose their "interesting-ness."

However, more than being in the Top 500 among the thousands of photos uploaded and viewed each day, it is the realization that there are photographers in Flickr who see something good about my craft. Being in Explore is just an icing on the cake. Sourgraping? No, of course. What counts more to me is the fact that my Flickr friends pat my back and show their affirmation that I have something good to show the world. (Or am I the only one thinking about it? lols!) Even if I only had a photo viewed and commented only once, but whose view and comments comes from a photographer I really admire, is enough gratification for me.

One photography club emailed me after joining them, and told me "Welcome to the real photography club!"

Being a thinking person, I reflected, "What did he mean by that?" --That Flickr groups are not real photography clubs? Ergo, I had second thoughts in joining but eventually joined--yeah, to get the feel of it. Eventually, however, it waned and lost my interest in the "real photography club".

I have some valid reasons to shy away from the group. First, I felt I did not get the warm welcome. I am not expecting the red carpet rolled out before me. But you know, you will feel when you are welcome or not. Second, I have some valid observations that I think will not fit my personality.

The "club" with its connotation of exclusivity, is, to me, so high-strung that it loses its ground, and has the tendency to close its doors to many other possibilities, networks and interactions among other photography groups and even individual photographers. The number of exclusive cliques in the group leaves you out-of-place and some of its members believe they are the best photographers while toting their expensive gears, left and right, front and back. Competition among the members is so strong that the photos you see online are the ones that are not worth commenting on (pardon me for this, because even though I have no formal training in photography, I can decipher whether or not one is a good photo).

It is very much unlike Flickr, which is a friendly learning environment, where amateur/ hobbyists and professional photographers alike share their knowledge in photography. I do not know but in that "club", there seems to be a form of "habit" not to show their photos online. It is also very much unlike Flickr where there are no strict rules. Artistry has no bounds and rules. It just does not augur well for me who has a free mind and will expressed through my creative juices. And the most important of all, it is also very much unlike Flickr where I am always welcomed or feel welcomed!

Anyway, enough for the rants. Let me thank my Flickr friends, and online friends who showed their support in my craft by at (at least) viewing my photos.

Thank you so much!

.....
Here are my photos that made it to the Flickr Top 500 based on "interestingness."


1. SEARCHING for meaning, 2. Almost blinded, 3. A day's reward, 4. Tingala [Look(ing) up], 5. Searching, 6. Study 009, 7. Repleksyon [reflection], 8. Idlip [nap], 9. Basco Light House, 10. PAIN, 11. Race, 12. Imagoism Thursday - Essence, 13. Pinoy Kodakeros give back, 14. Batas [Law], 15. Oblation

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

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Inkblots™ Home

Introducing my new home page: Inkblots™ Home.

This is an aggregator of my blogs, photography, personal and photography networks.

Please feel free to link. Thank you!

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I am explored!

For two years in Flickr, and flickr-ring, I always wondered how is it to be explored. Flickr's Explore page consists of 500 photos of the day based on interesting-ness and is chosen using a secret algorithm only Yahoo and Explore people would know. Being in explore to some gives them that kind of pride and say: "Hey I am explored!" For some, being explored means winning a lottery. Some add this as a feather in their cap.

My friends kept on asking me, why on earth don't I have any explored photo? I said I don't know why. I really don't know why. I am not really interested, after all. What matters to me are the real comments of my friends who have always appreciated my photos in Flickr. Nevertheless, the question kept on nagging me. So now I am more interested to find out how "explore" works rather than being explored.

So I deleted my Bighugelabs account that provides the service Flickr Scout--the one that looks for your photos in explore. I thought that there might be some problems with my account because there was a time that I unlinked my Flickr account for fear that it would be used by a third party. Then I signed up again, and made sure both applications were linked. Still there was none. So I tinkered in my Flickr account--where I saw I disallowed third party APIs (Application Programming Interface), so I allowed all APIs to run into my Flickr account.  Then voila!  I found one last night!  This morning, I found two.

So after two years in flickr, I have been "rewarded" with "explored" photos--oh well, not that majority of my photos are interesting.  They just did not manage to get into the 500 most interesting photos of the day among the hundreds of thousands of photos being uploaded. [Sourgraping! Lols!].  So here they are: ordinary photos that made to Top 500 in that particular day:

1. Almost blinded, 2. Searching
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

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Losing it

In the past months, I guess, blogging has taken its toll on me. I could not believe that my last entry was last July 9! There were so many factors why I haven't blogged much for more than 2 months.

First, was my job. It was not new to me, but there were more changes and improvements that needed to be implemented this time. Plus I was under pressure to perform better now that I am into my 4th batch of trainees.

Second, I was hooked to photography. I am a self-confessed Flickr addict! I cannot live the day without browsing through the streams of my friends, and administering and moderating groups. My weekends are usually for shoots and photowalks and out of town shoots.

Third, I was also busy with some photography-related activities/ events like joining for the first time, a Flickr photo exhibit in TriNoMa, and joining Pinoy Biyahero of Philippines Group also in Flickr.

And many other more reasons I have already forgotten!

Recently, something motivated me to go back to blogging...and why not? It is my first love! It was actually an e-mail from someone who can relate to my earlier post on Maryhurst garden in Baguio City. I was ecstatic not only because of the fact that I am on page 2 of Google when you search "Maryhurst" (Yes I tried it after reading her email, LOLs!), that I am read, but more importantly because of the fact that we share the same "passion" for Maryhurst.

Let me quote in full her e-mail:

Hello there! I was just trying to browse on the web for some stuffs while waiting for students who'd consult me on their academic load this semester when I chanced on your site regarding the maryhurst garden. I have heard so much of the famous "rose garden." I have been teaching the Maryhurst seminarians for the last 12 yrs, and I may say, every visit to the seminary is always a new experience. But I envy you because like a few, you have been a part of that garden and had appreciated it more than I did in memory.

Maryhurst has changed-the structure, the environment, the people, and perhaps the spirit. One of my college professors told me that when he was still a seminarian back then, Maryhurst was rustic and old and nostalgic. Now, the building looked more of a hotel. It maybe because of that tragic fire that ravaged it and its accessibility to the public. Most of my colleagues in the department where I belong had been Maryhurst seminarians. They can only feed me so much of first-hand info regarding that garden. Even the Panagbennga festival here which is held every February is no match for the late Bro. Armand's rose garden. Indeed, nothing can compare to a past that has not been forgotten. In philosophy, we say that at times, it's always good to forget so that we can remember.

I thank you for your article. It really moved me-the times that I have taken so many things for granted opened a few avenues in my journey. Most good things in life come a long time, and yet, they're still worth waiting for. The Maryhurst garden is no longer that majestic perhaps, but, it still is full of trees, and ferns, a few flowers and a lot of memories.

To you, Ms. Melany Natividad, thank you also for giving me that motivation again. It is now very rare for an unpopular blogger like me to be read, and it brings so much honor to be read even by just one person like you--and I guess, we have the same Alma Mater too, madam!

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Virtual flowers for a tired soul

The Flickr community is such a great site where you could only share your images and passion for photography. In my short stay at Flickr, I have gained friends--whom I met, whom I joined in photo shoots, photowalks, and bonding sessions; and whom I have yet to meet in person--who are yet to remain as my virtual friends, both here in the Philippines, and abroad.

To a certain degree, you get to know their persona through active interactions in Flickr mails, in commenting and receiving the same in the photo streams, or just plainly looking at their photos, which captivate and strike a chord in you. However, there are times when you wonder why your Flickr buddy is no longer posting a photo in his/her thread. Then you begin to ask questions, and follow the traces and leads that might give you an answer. Some just put in their profile they are busy, but some choose to be quiet, and some post in their blogs (which are also provided in their profiles).

This is what exactly happened to Sayote Queen or more popularly known as SQ in the blogosphere and Flickr. Early on, her blog never failed to make me let go of that smile, and some chuckles. Her Flickr stream never failed to amaze my eyes and captivate my soul. Perhaps, it is because of the fact that we share the same passion--that is photography and Baguio. As I have blogged about earlier Baguio Vignettes and Of Maryhurst, Flowers and Drizzles, Baguio occupies a special place in my heart.

So, the "investigation" began after knowing that SQ took a "leave" from her photography--and I am not happy with what I read in her blog entry "Silent Tears". Being a parent myself, I rooted for her and felt what it like to lose a part of yourself. I did not know how to express my sympathy, and at the same time letting her other Flickr friends know about her situation.

Then I thought of doing "it" again. It was a success when I first did it, and why not do it the second time around? However, it might not work this time because some members might think I am just making myself popular. Nonetheless, even if my move would be misconstrued, I posted a discussion thread in Pinoy Kodakero, and Flickristasindios where SQ is also a member.

Sympathies and prayers poured. I did not send a Flickr mail to SQ, and just waited her to open her Flickr site, and notice it. And by grace, she also posted a photo after some months of absence, and it seems she was surprised with the show of affection. I immediately commented on her photo, and said:

HI SQ! I hope you are well now! Glad you are back again!
Perhaps, it was not too late when I noticed your blog....but,

The Flickristasindios, and the Pinoy Kodakeros love you, and poured out their support for you!

Her comment in the thread speaks for itself. I am just happy with the thought that even online friends can give sympathies to persons you do not even know in person, and whom you only virtually interact with. I believe, this is one of the biggest benefits of the virtual reality where we belong now. We can touch people's lives--positively.

As I mentioned in my response to her appreciation, the credit still goes back to SQ:

I think you owe it to yourself that you have touched other people's lives through your photos, and we are just giving back what you have sown in us....I hope you also start to rekindle that passion again...you will never lose it...it just waits for a tiny spark...go out girl, and start shooting again, and express yourself!

Again, to SQ, may you find peace and happiness after your tragedy.


This may not be the last time I will do it. If there is a need to show sympathy for a person, or rally for a cause I am not going to restrain myself to campaign. I always believe that blogging (and now photography) can produce great results, if used appropriately. I always believe that Filipinos can!

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Inkblots: Double R [Rants and Rates]

Life is not always pleasant. You wake up one morning and some work issues greet you, making you grumpy the whole day. Save for the photos I see on Flickr in between work, and getting nice comments on my photos.

Then getting some not really good news from my sister, the morbid stories about the Romblon disaster, the spiraling prices of oil in the world market, and some saddening stories about my wife's cousin. Last Friday seems Friday the 13th!

However, I think God is really good. At least, the tax exemption is bigger now, which would at least gives me a bigger take home pay. I just hope they get reflected in my next pay check. Overall, my household is peaceful. My two sons are behaving well. Blessings! Blessings! I would count them instead.

In my previous post, I just started to count my blessings by discussing and expressing my gratitude to PinoyCentric as the second home for my photos in the net. Then, while reviewing the Technorati blog stats in Larawang Pinoy, to see if my groupmates are reading the LP blog after all. i was happy with the results in terns of page views and unique visits. Not bad for a baby blog. Then I noticed that there was a new link on Rate my Philippines. So I clicked it and saw something familiar screen shot -- and that is my blog! So I clicked it and indeed, it was my blog which is the latest review of the Rate my Philippines (RMP) Website.

Although it did not come to me as a surprise because, in the first place, I submitted my blog for rating and to be included in their review. What surprised me is the fact that it came too soon, add to to it the very nice review they gave to my blog.

I would say, it feels good to get a very nice review from people like the admins and website reviewers of RMP. There are not enough words to thank them for making me feel good about myself today.

Thanks a lot, Rate My Philippines!

God Bless and have a happy weekend!

...
P.S. I finally made a way on how to perform print screen, which you can see now posted here. I think the Print Screen button of my keyboard is not functioning. Then I looked into the installation icon, and found the function called "on-screen keyboard". So I tried if it works. It did! Cool A4Tech keyboard! Now I do not have to bug Alvin to do a print screen for me. LOLs!

Also, please visit THIS LINK and rate my blog. Just click at the stars below the review. Thanks!

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PinoyCentric - A second home

When I started with Flickr last year (2007), one of the first Flickr groups that I joined is PinoyCentric. It's group description says:

This is a place to share interesting your photos from around the world. Whether you're a pro or an amateur this is the place to showcase your best images of our people and culture - your own unique view of being a Filipino no matter where the diaspora has taken you.

From the links in the Flickr, I also stumbled upon their website with the same name. I thought it was a cool site solely dedicated to the promotion of Filipino culture, tradition, arts and crafts, and events and home-grown talents, both in the Philippines and abroad. Sharing the same vision of PinoyCentric, I was further inspired to hone my craft and capture through my lens the essence of being a Filipino, and the Philippines as a whole.

One day, I received a Flickr mail from Armand Frasco, one of the owners and admins, if they could possibly publish one of my photos and the accompanying story. Of course I was excited. It was the first time my work has been published in the net. This is the result of that short negotiation, which I also blogged here. Since then, by showing gratitude to PinoyCentric, I have contributed some photos in the group pool, and I was lucky enough that some of my works were also published in PinoyCentric. Some of these landed as weekly cover photo.

May this simple blog entry be my way of showing gratitude to Armand Frasco and the rest of the PinoyCentric Admins and Staff for recognizing some of my works.

May PinoyCentric continue to showcase the Philippines--its people, culture and the arts!

Maraming Salamat!
.....

You can view the photos included in PinoyCentric, HERE.

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My updated Lakbayan Rating

I has been 11 months after I got my Lakbayan rating. So I am now updating my Lakbayan Grade. Nothing much has changed ex except I think that I have been more often in Cagayan de Oro, been to Batanes, and Romblon in the past months.

My Lakbayan grade is B+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.


So get your grade now....I am now a "B+" from a "B" Traveler in the Philippines. I wish that I could be A- at least.

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I am turning ONE!

It was not so long ago when I started with my first entry entitled My First Ink. I was a just noob in blogging and was and completely dumb about blogging. Little by little, I learned about HTML and all that stuff. Since then, I have tried to improve the look of my blog, trying out various templates, only to bring it back to a much simpler format. After all, it is the content that matters.

Blogging has also introduced me to fellow bloggers, who have become my online friends. Then there are those passers-by who do not just read but also who express their support. It is enlightening and heartwarming to know that after all, there are still people who care abut the Philippines and who dare to be part of the development arena where I come from. I am not a voice in the wilderness, after all.

Blogging has given me so much freedom to express my thoughts and feelings. Yes, there are limitations to blogging, especially when someone tells you to delete your post because it is against company policy. I did delete some of the posts--with a heavy heart. However, propriety dictates I should do so. It may be against my principles, but I just thought that it is also a way of protecting some people that have become part of me.

Blogging has broadened my horizon--seeing new things in a different light. And I thank all my online friends for doing that. Blogging has also given me that needed pat on the back when I won a blogging contest. I do not know if I could do that again....but one thing is for sure--I will hold this in my heart forever. I thank you for all your support.

My blog is turning one on April 29, 2008. I will be on an out-of-town trip on that day, so I decided to just do it today.

This is my way of saying thank you for all the visits, links (Technorati preferred, LOLS!) and sharing your thoughts!

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Harvest

As I rummaged through my blog, I am surprised that I have reached more than 5,500 views as of today. This is not much compared to tens of thousands views by some blogs. Nonetheless, I am still happy I have reached 5,534 views as of today despite the fact that I have "neglected" my blog for 3 months. I guess, I have regained that momentum to blog again and share my thoughts and feelings to online friends

What excites me more is that my Flickr album got 6,023 views as of today! When it was nearing 5,000 views I planned to "celebrate" it, but I totally forgot it. Now, I have to "celebrate" it with a fitting photo.

Before I forget, I want to thank you, my Flickr friends who have constantly commented and visited my photo stream. you comments mean a lot to me to further home my craft. Of course, I should not forget my blogger friends, as well, who kept me company even if I was not able to maintain it for a while.

Now I am happy to announce I am back to both--blogging and Flickring!

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New Year. New Look. New Outlook!

I thought having a New year's Resolution is only for writing elementary formal themes. I am sure, many of you would share that part of grade school days when we have to write the things we promise to change or to acquire.

Of course, we have become more mature (physically), but some of us still have our Peter Pan syndromes. Still, making the resolutions come true remain to be an elusive reality to many of us, including myself.

Since it is new year, I am changing the color of my blog to white, to reflect what I feel now. (Also this is to accommodate the request of one of my readers who could not read in black background). So I hope Fe (yes, her name is Fe, a former colleague in PBSP), could read my blog better now. Hehe.

Nonetheless, I still do not have a list of my new year's resolution. Besides, I could not say much about the future. It is very difficult to promise something, but could not deliver what I have promised because the world is not within my control. But I would like to quote Milan Kundera, one of my favorite writers:

"We must never allow the future to be weighed down by memory. For children have no past, and that is the whole secret of the magical innocence of their smiles."

I just want to be happy ans take life's course. And now I realize, I wish to become child-like again!

Happy new year again, folks!

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Another tag: 5 questions

I almost forgot to respond to the tag of Monaco. As I have explained in my previous blogs, I am hooked to photography, and just today, I learned about HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography. It was one of the challenges posed by the previous challenge's winner. It sounds too techie, but I will try to learn more about it. I still have to master basics particularly my exposures. (lols!). It is really hard to shift to DSLR from point-and-shoot!

Anyway, I am here to answer the 5 tag questions passed on to me by Monaco. So here it is:

How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging since April (officially), but I actually started a blog in 2004, which I deleted. So, I am blogging for more or less 8 months now.

What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?

I actually dream of writing a book about me and my clan. But that is hitting the moon. So I will just be content with writing using the available and cheapest way to express my ideas and recording your life events.

About my "mentors", I think there are too many of them. They serve as guiding posts to what I am doing. And somehow, my readers are my mentors, as well. I learn from their comments and I take off from what I sense of what they want to read (and learn) from me.

Are you trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?

I am blogging just for fun and for personal expression. I do not like my blog to be cluttered with those ad banners. (Lolz!). But if I would be given a chance to write, say for a product endorsement, why not?

But the more important reason why I blog, is that I make sure that it becomes part of my curriculum vitae. Recently, I was invited to judge a photo essay contest, and rewarded with tokens and certificate. And I got the opportunity to work with the bigwigs like a President of a photography club and a photo journalist from Philippine Daily Inquirer. That is priceless!

And I blog to serve. I inform. I contribute to the ideas. This is the essence of citizen journalism.

Tell me 3 things you LOVE about being online.

First, it excites me about the new learnings about technology and photography.

Second, you get to appreciate people at their face value. If I like your photo or your blog, I can say so directly, and vice versa.

Third, I have full control of my blogs. I am the writer, editor, circulation manager, etc. And that is freedom for me.

Tell me 3 things you STRUGGLE within the online world.

First, I still wish all people would be polite. I hate spammers and critics who try to outsmart you. I believe Filipinos are naturally polite, because I am.

Second, I cannot please everyone. I cannot saturate the blogosphere. I fear that nobody reads my blog. I become paranoid and jealous of others who have reached hundreds of thousands of visitors/ readers. But eventually, I weaned myself from that attitude. I got tired of the rat race.

Third, I could not seem to figure out WordPress! I am simply frustrated. But as they say, if you have a lemon, make a lemonade. I am contented with Blogger.

I think that would be all for now...and it is my turn to pass on the burden..hehe!

So, I am tagging the following:

Hatchel of FILTEANY
Doc Ian of So Far, So Good
Hazel of Darang Sisa
Nina of the Underside
and
Blogie Robillo of Blogie Blog

Happy blogging!

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