Empress Of Drac, A Cebuana Blogger

At first glance, the thought of initiating a worldwide event is like a vagary.  People are raising their eyebrows, some are pessimistic, and some don’t even give a deal.  The main point here is that, we successfully initiated something which would result to a global impact later on.  We don’t need to expect a lot because this is the first, and though we have some failures, we surely can learn from it.

I wanted to congratulate Cebu Bloggers Society Inc. for successfully launching the very first World Bloggers’ Day event at Parkmall Cebu just a while ago.  It’s actually the very first time that all blogging communities around the Philippines made representations for each group.

The event started with an Invocation led by Willand Cuna (CBS member), followed by a welcome address by Miss Ma. Carla Estella, PR Officer of Parkmall, Cebu.  This was followed by the presentation of the blogging communities from around the Phillippines by Mark Monta, founder of Cebu Bloggers Society Inc..  Three blogging communities sent in their presentations: Manila Bloggers’ Network (headed by Azrael Coladilla), SOCKSARGEN Bloggers (headed by Avel Mananzala), and Davao Bloggers (headed by Ria Jose).  And, of course, Cebu Bloggers Society Inc. had also presented a short AVP about their organization.

After the blogging community presentations, Mark Monta presented the newly elected CBSI officers to the public.  The following are Cebu Bloggers Society Inc.’s newly elected officers.

President - Vernon Joseph Go
VP for Content Management - Michelle Louise Maglasang
VP for Corporate Affairs - Agnes E. Jimenez
VP for Education - Jerry Gervacio
VP for Marketing - Michael Sinjin Pineda
VP Membership - Clarence Andrew Mongado
VP for Ways and Means - Mark Monta
Treasurer - Bryan Karl Yuson
Secretary - Wilhelmina Sarawi
Auditor - Jorich Ponio
BOTs for Special Projects
- Gerrymie Tampus
- Guada Conception Esmena
- Mark Alessandrew Abitona
- Prince Ryan Gilig
- Ruben Licera Jr.
Ombudsman/Legal Counsel - Atty. Ethelbert Ouano

The presentation of officers was then followed by the unveiling of Parkmall’s monthly blogging contest.  Agnes Jimenez, the Events Coordinator, presented the contest’s guideline and mechanics.  This blogging competition is open to all Cebu-based bloggers.

The bloggers then enjoyed a sumptuous dinner prepared by Parkmall’s best food tenants.  The event ended with the awarding of the blogger of the day, the one with the best cast-away outfit, and a closing remark by CBSI’s new president, Mr. Vernon Joseph Go.

A lot of raffle prizes were also given during the event.  By the way, Ricky dela Cruz of Rabsing.com, won the best cast-away outfit contest.  Atty. Ethelbert Ouano and Doyzkie Buenaviajie were the men of the event (emcees).  Thanks a lot to Parkmall’s Marketing Team, headed by Madam Judith Letty Sellner for the major support and sponsorship.

N.B.: Before ending this post, I would also want to give special thanks to the special team behind World Bloggers’ Day’s online launching.

Graphics and Design - Jim Villaflores
Press Release - Bert Padilla
Post & RSVP - Michelle Louise Maglasang
Article - Milafel Hope Dacanay
Wikipedia Release - Jerry Gervacio (to be published later)
Others - Mark Monta, Agnes Jimenez

Photos will follow later.

Time flies so fast that I merely  notice it.  Cebu Bloggers Society will be celebrating its 2nd founding anniversary this 14th of February, 5PM - 9PM at SM City Cebu Foodcourt – SM Storyland Celebration Hall.  Hell, yeah!  It’s on Valentines Day!  There’s actually a rumor that on that day, about two years ago, our founder was heartbroken and because of loneliness and desperation, he decided to create an online group to relieve his ailing heart.  LMAO!

Seriously, the group has actually evolved into a well structured organization which is member-oriented and primarily aims to promote the province of Cebu to the international community through blogs.  In its 2-year course, CBS has already garnered prominent recognitions and has been featured in several publications.  The organization has also established various media partnerships and has been active in the local events and functions.  But, if you would bother to take a closer look, the group’s major accomplishment is that it has managed to attract diverse and competent members.

Cebu Bloggers Society’s 2nd Anniversary which is dubbed as “CBS @ 2: The Cebu Bloggers Society 2nd Anniversary Celebration” is made possible by the following.

MAJOR SPONSORS:

SM City Cebu
SM City Cebu is the 4th largest SM Supermall in the Philippines, and the 11th largest mall in the world! With almost 500 retail stores, outlets, restaurants and cafes, it offers the most discerning Cebuano the best and latest in fashion, electronics, home and furnishing, personal care and services, a wide array of local and international cuisines, family-fun and entertainment. All within the convenience of one amazing city – SM City Cebu!

SM Foodcourt, SM City Cebu
SM Foodcourt is a cool and comfortable dining place with a variety of good food offerings plus free Wi-Fi service. With such facilities, it is a perfect place for meet-ups.

SM Storyland
SM Storyland is fun-tasy land where childhood dreams become reality. Experience all the excitement and whimsy of the fun-filled attractions at SM Storyland. Storyland is packed with kid-friendly rides, state-of-the-art arcade games and attractions, exciting entertainment, themed party packages, souvenir shops and delightful diners that will surely put a smile to on every face. The entire park is a visual array of fantastic make-believe world complemented with fun yet magical music.

88DB
88DB is the newest service developed by JobsDB.com, the no.1 jobsite in Asia Pacific. With over 5 million members and over 160,000 corporate clients in the global network, JobsDB.com represents a substantial base of quality corporations and talented individuals who offer a wide range of services. 88DB extends JobsDB’s service to a new level by creating a classified site for organizations, companies, individuals, clubs, societies and associations to promote and hire services of various kinds. It is a platform for service providers and consumers to find each other and a community where users can interact with different service providers.

JobsDB
Founded in 1998, JobsDB quickly expanded its operations and is today the largest recruitment portal in Asia Pacific with the widest network coverage, spanning Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA.

Balamban Liempo
In Balamban, there is a unique method of grilling Liempo. with local herbs, spices and some secret ingredients.
Many people go to Balamban just to eat this delectable dish! Now, you don’t have to as it is finally in Cebu City! Why wait in line for Lechon and get the Part you don’t want? Everyone simply wants to get the “LIEMPO” or the BELLY! Now you can get “ALL BELLY, ALL THE TIME”!

Golden Bowl Dimsum
Golden Bowl Dimsum Express started out by an invitation from an SM Foodcourt tenant friend way back in 1997. It was the first Dim Sum in a foodcourt in Cebu. The name Golden Bowl Dimsum, at that time, came from the existing restaurant business, Golden City Dimsum Restaurant, “Bowl” for the smaller store, “City” for the big one.

King Wah Chinese Cuisine
Travel is always the best way to experience culinary diversity and Mrs. Evelyn Lim can personally attest to this. Her travels to China, Hong Kong and to other countries allowed her to savor the different dishes each country had to offer. Enlightened on the joys one can get from gastronomic delights, she was then inspired to share the wonderful experience to the Cebuano people. Wanting her dream to become reality, she opened King Wah Chinese Cuisine. Established on May of 1994 at the SM City Cebu Foodcourt, King Wah Chinese Cuisine made sure that it can provide the best dishes at affordable prices garnished with impeccable customer service.

Mama Gie
Started in 1980 managed and operated by spouses Alfredo E. Costales (deceased) and Virginia P. Costales, the name “Mama Gie” was derived from Virginia’s nickname Virgie or Gie for short and was widely known to friends and peers as “Mama Gie”. Being both food enthusiasts, Alfredo, an Ilokano with a keen business acumen and Virgie, a Kapampangan who is regarded by many as an excellent cook initially put up a snack/fastfood counter at F. Ramos Street in Cebu City serving Kapampangan snack delights like the Pancit Palabok, Fresh Lumpia, Dinuguan with Puto, Guinata-an Bilo-Bilo and Goto Tokwa’t Baboy. Their regular customers then were medical students from Velez College as well as medical representatives.

Ric’s Barbecue
After 15 years of operations in SM Foodcourt, Ric’s Barbecue owner Jingle Benitez – Polotan knows by heart the ingredients for a successful restaurant.

“It’s our food. I know that if your food is good, people will always come back for more even if there are a lot of restaurants around you.”, says Benitez-Polotan before adding “It’s the service also that matters most to customers.”

Benitez-Polotan knows fully well that this formual works. Ric’s Barbecue, an unassuming diner located at SM City Cebu’s Food Court, after all is turning 15 years, a pioneer at the mall which also celebrates its anniversary every November 27th. Over the years, this restaurant manages to stay ahead because it serves tasty Filipino favorites such as pochero and barbecue.

MINOR SPONSORS:
Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort
Maribago, Buyong
Mactan Island, Lapulapu City 6015
Cebu, Philippines
+63 32 492-0100 / 232-5411
+63 32 492-0128 to 129
maribago@bluewater.com.ph
www.bluewater.com.ph

Batang Yagit

JehzLau-Concepts

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http://itsjesryl.blogspot.com/2010/02/cebu-bloggers-society-2nd-year.html
http://www.insearch4you.com/2010/02/cebu-bloggers-society-2nd-anniversary.html
http://www.iamdownloader.com/2010/02/cbs-celebrates-its-2nd-anniversary.html
http://www.kevinraychua.com/2010/02/cbs-2-cebu-bloggers-society-2nd.html
http://beyond-the-norms.org/2010/02/cebu-bloggers-society-2nd-anniversary-celebration/
http://cebuimage.blogspot.com/2010/02/cebuano-bloggers-society-anniversary.html
http://gervacio.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/celebrate-one-great-cebu-celebrate-one-great-cebu-bloggers-society/
http://www.lifeincebu.com/2010/02/cebu-bloggers-2nd-anniversary-sm-city.html
http://titlletatlle.blogspot.com/2010/02/cebu-bloggers-society-2nd-anniversary.html
http://extraordinarykiddo.com/happy-second-year-anniversary-cebu-bloggers-society/
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http://www.kiatan.com/cebu-bloggers-anniversary/
http://www.myfreedomwall.com/two-years-of-cebu-bloggers/
http://www.tiborsho.com/cebu-bloggers-second-anniversary/
http://lemonsito-here.blogspot.com/2010/02/cbs-2.html
http://www.karenveloso.com/2010/02/cbs-at-2-the-cebu-bloggers-society-2nd-anniversary-celebration/
http://www.misswilhelmina.com/2010/02/09/cbs-2/
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In the end, my loyalty to CBS prevails.  At first, I hesitated doing this because of that little mess that happened a month ago.  But when I think of it now, it’s just like a tiny splat of mud that temporarily stirs the very still water.  Cebu Bloggers Society Inc., no matter what will happen, is still the only winner in my mind and heart.

CBS is very dear to me because of various personal and official reasons.  This is why I’m voting for it (http://cebubloggers.com) in the PBA’s Bloggers Choice Award.  In the near future, I am quite sure that CBS will not only become the leading bloggers group in Cebu, but also, will become the Philippines’ premiere blogging community.  This is because, as what Bimbo Cabochan said, “CBS is a very powerful group.”

CBS is the most organized blogging community in the country and has the highest number of active members compared to other blogging organizations outside of Cebu.  Unity, respect, humility, and camaraderie are the main components that bond the group together.  Being tagged as a “very bureaucratic” organization is definitely a compliment.  Arigatou ne!

He has better skin complexion, and has this wholesome aura in person. (I think he has a facial routine in Belo.  Hahahahaha!)  I had the opportunity of meeting him along with my fellow blogging cyborgs when Kevin, CBS spokesperson, organized a one-hour interview that was held in Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, IT Park about a month ago.

Honestly, I’m not campaigning for him, nor do I have any plans of giving my precious vote  to him on the upcoming 2010 presidential election.  It just happened that Kevin is his die-hard supporter here in Cebu.  The blogging cyborgs got no other choice, but to interview him. LOL!

Anyways, after listening to his very nice platform and observing how he carried himself during the course of the interview, I think that he’s not bad at all.  I don’t want to be so bias.  Let’s give our beloved senator a chance to prove his capability.  I mean let’s give all those people who are vying for the presidential seat a chance to prove themselves.  Just think of it.  What will happen if no one is interested to become a president?

N.B.: Senator Mar Roxas was 30 minutes late.  Hahahaha!

Photo Credits: Doyzkie

I know I’ve already heard about the website a few times in the past, but I didn’t pay any attention because of its name.  Yehey!, when I first heard about it, I normally thought that it’s just another struggling website that rides on with Yahoo’s popularity.  I was thinking that why should they not come up with an original name and made a name out of it?  I mean, come on!  We all know that ipod is very hot in the market because it’s the original.  Though there are lots of less expensive products which imitated its features, most consumers still prefer the genuine and original one.  And that’s what I thought of Yehey! before.

Honestly, my opinion really doesn’t change that much now.  The only difference is that I had the opportunity of meeting the people behind this search engine company.  I’ve learned new things during the short presentation held at La Maison and discovered how friendly their staffs are.  I also think that their strategy of tapping bloggers to help them in their promotion campaign business is very practical, economical, and most of all brings learning and fun to most blogging enthusiasts.

Though this company is not that original(well, we don’t need to be original all the time to be successful), I think that they became one of the effective agents of internet revolution in the Philippines.  As the country’s second most visited website(next to INQ7.net), Yehey! people could now proudly shout their company name.  Yehey!

Reference: Answers.com

Photo Credits: Michelle and Andrew