You Got Tech

You might've heard or (hopefully visited) You Got Tech, a blog that I launched on New Year's Day with friends from all over the country (and two are currently blogging from other countries!).

So, why a tech blog for non-techies? I do not consider myself a techie person. I do not hold a computer science degree and the only programming class I took was logo programming when I was in fourth grade (and I remember nothing about it!). So my sob story is - a couple of tech blogger friends made fun of me when I was just starting out to blog. I am never shy to ask questions or help when I need it, so I was quite surprised that my friends made fun of me because I was asking questions about IT personalities they knew. Sorry, but my interests are different.

I meet a lot of people, from very techie to geeky to technologically-challenged people and I had the chance to get feedback how these people learn the ropes. For those who try to learn on their own they said they read blogs and ask questions too, but have experienced getting laughed at (like me). Sad noh?

After some careful thought and a couple of rounds of iced tea (yeah, iced tea) with my friends one night in Davao we thought of coming up with a blog for non-techies. They urged me to go make one, but I realized that I cannot do it alone and that I have so much more to learn so I bugged them to join (we're still looking for a blogger from the Visayas region).

So, You Got Tech is a tech blog for non-techies. Expect topics to range from gadgets, new media marketing, tech for business, mobile, IT education, vlogging, photography and whatever we think is interesting. We also want to learn to, and have fun in the process, so expect kinks and funny stuff to show up as we all go through the journey of learning about technology (ahhh you might just one day see us with a You Got Tech dance, all in the name of having fun hehehe... abangan).

Here are some episodes and posts we've put together in the past seven weeks:

Episode 1: Fuji Camera
Episode 2: 02 XDA
Episode 3: iPod Touch
Episode 4: Kodak Easyshare V603 (my secret vlogging sauce)
Episode 5: Getting Inspired to Vlog (from the vlogging expert Cokskiblue)
Episode 6: AJ of BaklaAko.com Talks about his Mobile Phone TV

We also have bits and pieces of introductions here and there, some talk about living the mobile life, losing a PC, and how to maintian your PC. Keep in mind the blog is forever going to be a work-in-progress.

For questions and what-nots and whatever, email us at info @ yougottech.com.

Sige na! Haba na ng intro ko, bisita ka na! And don't forget to add us up in your list of reads.

An Apple a Day on Blog-o-Rama

Something to be giddy about...

I'm the featured blogger on Annalyn Jusay's Blog-o-Rama column today (February 25,2008), so go grab a copy of Manila Bulletin. Aside from the usual "why do you blog" questions I also answered an interesting, unique query on "Should you date a blogger?" (LOL)... well, should you?


I'll scan and upload a copy later today when my Mom finishes sweeping copies up from all the nearby suking tindahans.

Thanks to Sweetie for fixing up my header. That was a candid shot while I was blogging and he just surprised me with a new header a week after, sure beats the madre look I had in the previous one.

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Managed to swipe a copy from my Mom. My Dad said he'll post a copy in the bulletin board in his office... arrrgggh! You can view the article here or here.

My Favorite Pinoy Pasalubong (Delicacy)

It goes without saying that I will gain weight whenever I step out of Metro Manila. Who wouldn't? I have quite a number of posts at Lakwatsera Ako featuring all the sumptuous food I've been gorging on whenever I get to travel.

Here's a list of my favorite pasalubongs:

1. Vigan - longganisa

2. Baguio - ube, chocolate krispies, kornik

3. Pampanga - tocino

4. Bulacan - pastillas

5. Lucban - longganisa, broas, apas, galletas

6. Bicol - anything made of pili nut, and I love the mar'kina of Moderna Bakery

7. Kalibo - suman

8. Bacolod - napoleones, piaya

9. Cebu - mango, dried mango, dried fish

10. Cagayan de Oro - Vjandep pastel

11. Davao - durian candy, suha

12. GenSan - tuna (good for sushi!)

What about you? What's your favorite Pinoy delicacy? Craving for some but out of the country? Head on over to Pinoy Delikasi and I bet you when you meet it's owner, Jovel Cipriano, he'll tell you to order some fresh mangoes (he always mentions that whenever I see him during Digitalfilipino club eyeballs).

Hmmm... thinking about all that food made me hungry.

Blogger Made Me Blush!

It was such a huge surprise to be mentioned at Blogger Buzz and I thought I should make a welcome note for all those who discovered my blog through the post. I would like to say MARAMING, MARAMING SALAMAT PETE and ERIC for being such great friends. You just don't know how kilig I get when I get notes from you (I'm a fan! I'm a fan!).

And for those who’ve landed here at An Apple a Day, a warm welcome and MABUHAY to you! I hope you enjoy your visit and keep coming back! You’ve landed though in my maskipaps, halo-halo personal blog and may want to visit my saner blogs: Stitching (work), Lakwatsera Ako (travel), Twisted Wedding Planner (wedding stuff which is being fed to Kasal.com), Tales of the Moonless Sky (ghost stories) and my baby vlog You Got Tech.

For my kababayans, we do have a very active blogging community in our country and I've made friends with quite a number from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. I would like to make a couple of suggestions on where you can find more Filipino bloggers -

iBlog
Pinoy Bloggers Society
Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs of 2007
Mindanao Bloggers
Philippine Blog Awards

We had a great blogger year last year with so many parties (like Taste Asia) and I think Karlo gave a great year-end recap on what happened in the Pinoy blogosphere last year. There's loads of upcoming blogger events and rumor has it there's going to be a bash at Taste Asia again!

Thanks for dropping by!

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Translations
maraming, maraming salamat - many, many thanks
mabuhay - long live
kilig - giggly
maskipaps - whichever way
halo-halo - all mixed up (not the local delicacy! ha-ha)

MYMP and an Engagement

I was clueless about how we were going to celebrate V-day (a belated one). All I knew was we were going to Megamall to meet a friend and drop by an expo. By Friday night I was already going crazy over the surprise (OC ako eh!) and was trying to wheedle it out of Sweetie all night, to no avail. So, I had to wait!

After the meet-up, surprising Richard Poon (I bet he never expected us to show up in that event), and hyperventilating at the expo (thank God for the huge electric fan at the Megatrade Hall), I was whisked away to the Metrowalk area, still clueless about where we were going. I was just told we had to eat dinner and then we had to go and "claim" the gift.

I was then given an envelop and in it were 2 tickets to MYMP's "A Valentine... So Perfect" concert at the Meralco Theater. I did not realize immediately that the concert was about to start in 30 minutes and that Meralco Theater was just a stone's throw away. I had to ask, "Kelan ang Feb 16?". Me, the dodo. I finished my dinner in no time.

I love OPM. I've said that time and time again and I just cannot help but feel starstruck whenever I meet an artist and I don't think I will move past being a fan. Anyway, I couldn't help but giggle last night when we arrived at the Meralco Theater. Why? Because the whole place was filled with lovers! Mag-jowa! Magkasintahan! Good thing I have Sweetie because if I didn't and attended that concert I would've ended up depressed over the lovey-dovey feeling in the whole place.

Juris and Thor

The last time I watched MYMP was back in 2006 at the Araneta Coliseum with my friend Mabel (and we sat at the bleachers!) and I truly enjoyed watching them. Juris gave a heartfelt rendition of "Bukas na lang Kita Mamahalin" and Chin gave a powerful performance of "Kisapmata". They also introduced what I'd say would be the Philippines' version of "Rod Stewart" - Tata (hope I got that right). Thor also graced the occasion and did a duet with Juris, "Be My Number Two" (check out his album "Soul Obsessions" it's really good).

I've heard of surprise proposals - done in concerts, with famous authors, or even as scavenger hunts - but I've never witnessed one (planned some yeah, but not I have not witnessed one). Juris announced that they were going to name someone "couple of the night" and while she was singing, photos of different couples were flashed in the screen. The couple in the final photo was called down to the stage and were given some flowers and gifts.

Juris asked the girl to give a message and she just said, "Thanks sa treat, happy valentine's and... I love you." The crowd cheered! Sino ba naman di kikiligin nun? Then the microphone was passed on to the guy and he was quite formal at first, greeted Juris and Chin, the audience and then he said, "Juris I hope you don't mind if I say a few words." The audience suddenly became silent. And then the guy said, "Hon I spoke with your brother 3 nights ago..., " the audience started going wild here, "and I told him `ang kapatid mo ay mahal na mahal ko at siya lang ang mamahalin ko buong buhay' and then I told him that I want to take care of you," then the guy kneels down , "Hon, will you marry me?"

Of course the girl said "Yes" and after the guy placed the ring on her finger she started pounding his chest (and was probably crying already). And then Juris sang "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways". Awww...



Check out photos of the concert at the MYMP Band Multiply account.

It was a great day. I definitely made the right choice =)

The Rubberman: Mark David Cerezo

So, I'm laying off the love and relationship posts for now. I'm probably freaking out a lot of people (most especially my friends from other countries) already. Hehehe... sorry.

Anyway, in the past couple of months I've met soooo many people. Interesting, funny, unique and even weird people, and persons who I think would really go a long way. I've chatted with some of them and I'll be posting about them from time to time.

Mark David Cerezo

Some of you might have seen him on TV already coz he's been featured several times on shows like Unang Hirit because of his very interesting and unique hobby - making costumes out of rubber.

Yup rubber.

I met Mark backstage during one event and I got to chat with him and found out that he just accidentally learned how to make these costumes. He was just asked to watch over another guy who was giving lessons on costume making using rubber. He found out that he enjoyed playing around with making things out of scrap rubber. Made some costumes, joined some cosplay gatherings, joined contests and won. He is set to compete in other countries in the coming months and is being sponsored by the Marikina City Government for that (but he needs more sponsors!!!).

I was quite happy over meeting Mark because he's got so much passion in him. Very unassuming, humble and open to anything. Congratulations Mark and good luck in the contests you'll be joining! (I'll send you some tips on how to cost-out your stuff, I promised!).

Mark accepts orders for costumes. If you're interested, please email me privately and I can hook you up with him.

Photos from Mark (copied with permission!).

Single Awareness Day

This day last year I was a singleton celebrating Valentine's Day... in an airplane. Arrived in Manila at around 10 in the evening and waited for the printer to deliver some materials I had printed. I was also rushing about since I had to be early the next day to do ingress for an exhibit. Little did I know that the person I had a belated Valentine's merienda with (well not really to celebrate Valentine's) would become my Sweetie!

I couldn't stop laughing over my dear friend Sorsi's recount of how her family and friends in the US have been trying to set her up with someone, anyone actually. Head over to That Girl Was Me and check out her latest adventures. I know I'm the one to blame for some of the horrors she went through recently and I try my best to cheer her up and motivate her to hang-on and aim to get the best. Hey, I waited years before I got found by the right one and here's how I managed to hang-on:

1. I read books! I went through Joshua Harris' "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" and "Boy Meets Girl", Greg Bernhardt's "He's Just Not Into You", "The Rules" (forgot who the author is sorry), and the best was Bo Sanchez' "How to Find Your One True Love".

2. I met boys! At some point I really didn't want to date anymore. I made a mandate not to date anyone for a whole year after my last relationship. Why? To prevent rebound since it was a 7-year long relationship. I only actually started dating 2 years after only to get frustrated since I didn't realize that even friends would be such boleros. After reading Kuya Bo's book, I kept myself busy and did my homework of meeting 5 single guys every week.

3. I made friends! I will not be a hypocrite and say I did not start falling for some of them, but hey I'm a girl and it's quite easy for girls to fall. I knew though when to stop and did not give my heart to any of them. I also made it a point to keep the boys I met as friends (save for a couple who became Mr. Hyde after a while). I also managed to make a lot of new friends last year from all over the country (and the world).

4. I made peace with my past! It's kinda strange but I always felt that I would only find the right one once I made peace and put closure to my past. It was kinda weird but each one of them just showed up one by one early last year and the last one just popped up just before new year.

5. I kept busy! My work kept me sane since I was always doing one thing and another. I also tried out doing new things, bugged old and new friends. I remember Kuya Bo's book had a list of suggestions on what you could do as a singleton.

I did give up and thought I'd remain single forever. Good thing the Daddy and son tandem I had as seatmates in the airplane kept me sane. I made up my mind then that my life would just be about my family, work, some interests and perhaps study for a doctoral degree, but maybe, maybe because I was closer to heaven when I was saying my prayer, God heard my last plea and granted my prayer.


Here's a funny video that's quite appropriate for Valentine's day -