Au Revoir Cebu, My Second Home

It’s 4:11 in the morning and I couldn’t seem to sniff out a stable wifi connection here at the Mactan International Airport in Cebu, so I’m writing this post offline.

I’m off to Davao for a series of speaking engagements arranged by the Davao Web Group (through Blogie, Andrew and Marc J.).

The other night I had the privilege of meeting Cebu’s indomitable and very pretty Provincial Governor, Gwen Garcia during the gala dinner for Cebu ICT delegates at the Provincial Capital. We were wowed through cultural dances performed by kids and a Cebuano “operatic singer”. Check out the intricately done colourful costumes of the performers. I think it was cute that the kids at the end of their dance kneeled down and pointed to the governor's goddess looking photo. Take note as well of the photo I managed to take of the painting of the Capitol’s dome. I only realized that the intersecting lines formed a cross when I took the photo.



Exhaustion took over when I got back to the hotel and I just literally conked out on the bed. I think I must’ve lost weight from all the walking I’ve been doing in the past few days. The next day I visited the much talked about Cebu International Convention Center to catch Janette’s talk and check out the exhibits. Because of the little walk I did I think I’ll be visiting Iloilo and Dumaguete soon. Yey!

I didn’t go out much, but managed to check-out Paseo, a gimmick-slash-shopping place a stone’s throw away from the newly finished Sykes building. There were quite a lot of pretty dresses and décor and Cagayan de Oro’s famous Vandep pastel (pastry) was available for sales as well in the Paseo. We decided though to hang-out at Off-Roads (our official hang-out place in Cebu) coz we wanted to have some hot tea and my favourite mint chocolate cake. I was decidedly full and in high spirits when I got back to the hotel and ended up chatting with Janette until 4 in the morning.

My last day in Cebu was a flurry of activities and would-be activities. Egads, I think I should get a place in Cebu already!

Next stop: Davao!

Cebu Love Thoughts: How Will I Know He is The One?

Last night Janette and I stayed up until 4 a.m. discussing the merits of choosing “The One” (the right one that is).

How does one choose? And how does one know that the guy lurking around in your backyard is someone you could trust?

Of course, there’s my ideal guy checklist and there’s another list I have which is definitely not bloggable (let’s keep some things about my life to myself eh?). Bo Sanchez in his bestseller, “How to Find Your One True Love” said that you have to meet at least 5 guys every single week. In the past few months, I’ve been meeting that quota easily believe me. And let’s just say, I have made many, many new guy friends. Hehehe.

So how does one go about trusting a person? It is not natural for me to check-up on people. I don’t use a search engine nor Friendster to check-up on one’s background. I know, I know this should come naturally. Argh! I’m just so stupidly trusting (uh, that’s why I have 3 best friends looking after me?). Janette said, “It's all about risk management.” `Nuff said about that.

So let’s say you manage to determine that the person in the hot seat is someone you could trust and someone you’re considering. How long should you “play the game of chess”? (That was Punzi asking why it was going to take several months for me). So how long? Punzi chimed in a bit later on through Twitter that it shouldn’t be long. And Janette said that when you are in your 30s it’s a totally different ballgame because people know what they want and oftentimes don’t want to undergo the frilly, silly game called courtship.

So how will I know? I mean, it’s been a looooong time and I guess I’m kinda lost! LOL. So help me out here!

I’m tagging some married and single friends (and you if you wanna chime in as well) to provide me some thoughts on this matter: Tappy, Marc, Gail, Sasha, Anne, Harry, Janette (a reading perhaps? LOL), Manuel, Jozzua (I still owe you 1 meme!), Lady Cess, Sexy Mom, Noemi, Juned, Jayvee, Jun, Blogie, Andrew, Honey, Jay, Mayi, AJ, Sarah, Kristine, Max, Quistian, Markku.

The things Cebu does to me! LOL. Cheerios!

Cebu! Cebu!

I've been to Cebu many, many times. I think this would be my tenth visit now. Yesterday I couldn't help but giggle with the welcome that the Mactan Shangri-la Resort & Spa staff gave me. They put this necklace on me -



Now, now it was a very nice gesture and the last time I experienced it was at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Bali last December when they hung a garland of kamachile on me (I thank them with a prompt ahoooo!)... but in Cebu? I never experienced it with Waterfront Hotel and Marriot Hotel. I only understood why they did it upon arrival at the resort. It's a resort!



I walked around a bit after exhausting my laptop's battery and enjoying the free wifi at the lobby. I would've dived in the swimming pool or gone to the beach, but I had to finish up with ework. I was craving for pasta so I headed over to Acqua and enjoyed the seafood marinara. Acqua is an Italian resto within the resort (also with free wifi!) and after that I proceeded to my room to do my reports. Took a nap and then my best friend fetched me to have dinner. We drove around for a bit and settled in at Amigo, a new grill place a stone's throw away from the resort. We were the only customers in the resto, so we enjoyed the full attention of the staff.

I woke up bright and early today for the 8 a.m. call time for the Cebu ICT. The "Marquee" where it's held here at the Mactan Shangri-la was quite a loooooong walk from my room. I definitely thought that I should've just worn jeans and sneakers to the event. But then again, Sasha wouldn't agree since she advised I should be wearing dresses to my speaking engagements.

I was definitely nervous - remember I have stage fright! And having bigwig CEOs, top government officials, foreign delegates in the audience didn't help any. I was part of the panel for the "Promoting Investment in Asia ICT/ITES", read up on it in my work blog. Anyway, here are some photos that TeamAsia took for me using my fool-proof idiot camera.



I still got a few days left here in Cebu and hoping to meet up with Cebu bloggers, SEOs and even open source people, or whoever! I moved the meet-up coz I'm kinda stuck here at the Mactan Shangri-la. Hope to meet Cebuanos on June 28, 6 p.m. Bo's Cafe, Ayala Center Cebu (the one near the yummy foodie area, I mean near the entrance where there's a Starbucks). (Oh! And for the bloggers - my friends are kinda looking for some to be a problogger, so you might wanna come so I can refer you guys to them).

The Social Geek in Me

Nah, not really a geek, but I do like meeting people and I'll be in Cebu and Davao next week!

Calling, calling people in Cebu (hey Kristine!!!) and Davao... let's meet up! I want some lechon Cebu and durian coffee!!! I'm going t get so fat again gee...

Anyways, I'd like to thank the really vibrant and active Davao Web Group for being so supportive and helpful! Baka malampasan niyo na Manila niyan ha!

June 27 - 28
Cebu ICT

June 27 (evening) ---> moved to June 28 6 p.m.
Meet-up with bloggers/SEOs
Bo's Cafe, Ayala Mall, Cebu

June 28 (evening)
Marketing your Business Online
Meet-up with SMEs

June 29
Marketing Your Business Online
Department of Trade & Industry - Davao
with Yehey.com
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 pm.

June 30
Google University
Blugre Cafe
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Meet-up with Bloggers/SEO (evening)
venue TBA

July 2
Google University
University of Mindanao, Davao
8:00 to 11:00 a.m.

And then I fly back to Manila for another series of engagements:

July 3
Google and Research
Department of Labor and Employment
Intramuros, Manila

Blogger Food Fest at Tasia Asia
Mall of Asia, Bay City

Crazy Week for Crazy Me, As Usual

Things have been so crazy the past few days! I had speaking engagements almost everyday and lots of back-end stuff I needed to work on and if you noticed through my Twitter, I'm an all day, all night person. But! BUT! I still managed to have a teenie-weenie bit of a social life. I still have a life! Yehey!

This week's rundown:


No! I didn't get engaged! That's my hand though trying out a 50K engagement ring. I accompanied a friend to the Bridal Expo: Perfect Beginnings at the PICC Forum last Sunday and he wanted to take a photo of the ring for his fiance. More about this coming in The Twisted Wedding Planner (I got blog backlog!).

Merienda-dinner at the Chocolate Kiss (it's not just a dating place!) in UP Diliman after a Digitalfilipino workshop for its website awards winners. I had yummy, yummy food and crazy conversation with John, The Macalua, Jay, Charlie (still can't imagine you reading Cosmo! tsk tsk tsk!), Reggie and Janette (not in photo). I think there's something about the iced tea at Chocolate Kiss... we had a very lively discussion on why guys should read Cosmopolitan!




In the evening I tagged along with Jay to attend a Unisilver event. Why oh why would I do this? Because Sam Milby was there! It was quite a challenge to get a proper photo of him - check out the photos above or here to see how I tried to outperform the media photographers just to get a decent photo of him. He was so cute even though he looked puyat.

When I got home that night I announced the Taste Asia Bloggers Food Fest. We have about 150 sign-ups for it already! It's just a bit on hold for more sign-ups right now and I'm trying to suade the sponsor to allow more people to come (was supposed to be originally only for 100 bloggers). Check if your coordinator included you here. Google Docs & Spreadsheets came in really handy for me for this event! Check out the food here.

And the rest of the week was a whirlwind of activities (like IMMAP and other crazier stuff)! Check out Sasha's talk on niche blogging. Too bad my camera went low batt and I wasn't able to video Jayvee's very interesting and lively talk on business blogging and online reputation management.

By Thursday I was already so tired and missed badminton with the BOB! Aaarggh! I'll miss it again next week coz I'll be heading off to Cebu and Davao! Hopefully to meet more bloggers in the area as well!!! Did you guys know they're going to have a Mindanao Bloggers Summit in October? These guys (like Blogie, Andrew, Honey and Marc J.) are just simply great! Too bad I missed the Cagayan de Oro ICT event!

And, of course, not to forget, my handful just became more of a handful by turning 13! Sniff sniff.

Crazier week ahead next week! Going back to sleep now! Zzzzzz...

Happy 13th Birthday Miguel

I thought I was dreaming when I felt the sudden glow of happiness. I woke up and felt a happy feeling enveloping me. It was contagious and I just couldn't help but smile.

It was Miguel snuggling up to me early this morning while waiting for the schoolbus to fetch him. I knew he had a huge grin in his face even though it was dark.

My son was very happy. I know, I felt it. It's like the huge warm hug he gives me every day.

It's been 13 years since that fateful day where I labored for 37 hours. They would've cut me up already, but my toes suddenly wiggled and they knew he was coming. Even at birth my son was already mabait, he didn't want his Mommy cut up (pwede pa mag-bikini)! Funny how we all thought he would be female even though I walked like a duck, was as ugly as a gorilla and manas as a pig. It was what was the first ultrasound said. Yun pala naipit! LOL.

My bundle of joy has grown up and I can't help but cry coz I know he's got his own life already and Mommy cannot just drag him anywhere anymore. But he has promised to hug me and tell me he loves me every single day.

Girls! Keep out! This Mom's definitely the jealous type. LOL.

Happy birthday my dear sweetie! Mommy loves you very, very much!

P.S. Miguel turned down my offer to buy him a DS Lite, he said, "I want to have a party with the people I grew up with." Aww shucks, my son has truly grown up!

P.P.S. Miguel's birthday video.

Taste Asia Blogger Food Fest

Are you ready for this?

Bamboo Shells on Tausi Sauce
(behind it is the Chicken on Okay Sauce)

Tempura

Pork Liempo

These were just some of the food that I got to taste with friends Sasha and Jayvee at Taste Asia. We also had sisig which I especially liked coz it's different from the regular pulutan sisig (yummy yum yum!), barbecue and bibingka. I also liked the tempura coz it wasn't just all about flour - the shrimp was actually quite big! We were too stuffed for dessert though, yipes.

Anyway, if you haven't signed up yet for the blogger meet-up on July 3, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. at Taste Asia (beside SM Hypermarket), at the Mall of Asia then where have you been for the past 48 hours?

Sign-up now by leaving a comment here at An Apple a Day or through any of the coordinators: Sasha Rico Janette Jedi Jay Abe Ely Marc Jayvee Shari Noemi Sexymom Jonas Pierre Jomar and AJ, through their posts:

The Parody
Yugatech.com
Abuggedlife.com
Misteryosa.com
Baratillo.net
Dalanghita.com
Piscinarii.com
iread2.org
Pinoysnapshots.com
Digitalfilipino Blog
MagandangBalita.com
Pinoy Food Photoblog
Inquirer.net Blog Addicts
Jozzua
Bakla Ako, May Reklamo?
Jomar Hilario
Markku
Fool45.com
The Macalua
Manuel Viloria

Check if your coordinator has already included you... here.

Please visit for updates on the program! Heard from the grapevine that SM Hypermarket is launching a contest for bloggers! Oh and for those talented people out there who want to be heard we're hoping you could share a song or two during the event. Ano? Game na! Sign-up now!

Oh, and do check-out Janette's writing project on the Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007 which is still ongoing, it'll make you look forward to meeting new bloggers as well.

P.S. Sensya na po... it's Taste Asia pala and not Taste of Asia as I previously posted.