A Bugged Life: My Last Post for 2006

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 31st, 2006

As I begin to write this post I am finding it very hard to think of a title – and dear reader, whilst you read the finished post, know that I have been thinking of the perfect way to end the year with my last post since November last month.

Back to headline writing. It is evidence of similar problems I had back in grade 6 where I had trouble thinking of the perfect post title. I learned a technique which I picked up from reading too much Neil Gaiman, which would be to say it plain and simple and let the words flow from your pen keyboard. So hence my title, plain and simple.

There are many people I should thank for such a wonderful 2006. A toast to the following people:

To Poch, Adel, Eva, Jaja, Mitch and the rest of the quirky editorial team at HIP for helping me find my “happy feet heart song”

To JV, Joey, Erwin and my other friends from the INQ7 team (now Inquirer.net)

To fellow tech journalists, writers, PR folk, marketing and product managers including Joey Server, Ed Geronia, San San de Leon, Agnes Espino, Sheila Rada, Jane Chua, Jed Quiambao, Miles Montecillo, Kit Arines, Sherlyn Co, Denise Haak and the other Ogilvy girls – for being with me in the countless press cons and media events!

To Cathy, Jenny and Sorsi – the Globe Innove “Blogger’s Angels”

To Kiven for taking over the helm of my former position.

To my other blogger friends too many to mention and to the other colleagues I have failed to mention because of my passing into the old age of “late twenties.”

As I end 2006, I look forward to my “new” work that has everything and anything to do with blogging. Starting January 1 2007 I take over the position of Technology Channel Editor for b5media Inc. A big thank you to the guys at b5media – to Duncan Riley who got me into this in the first place, and to Jeremy, who trusted me with this stuff.

Though this won’t take up my 9-5 I intend to use the free time to pursue other things that have to do with – and also nothing at all with the publishing industry.

Here’s to a bright and optimistic 2007!

The Great Inquirer.net Transition!

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 30th, 2006

There have been several speculations about the movement of INQ7.net to the new Inquirer.net site, and fancy that – this blog was mentioned to have unveiled the scoop about the partnership between the Inquirer group of companies:

Now we can concentrate on INQUIRER.net, on developing new content and services and integrating the online properties of the other members of the Inquirer group of companies, which has grown over the years. As you can see from the example of this Mobile Philippines beta site that Jayvee Fernandez has previewed on his blog. – Joey Alarilla

Though I’m no longer a “full time consultant” for HIP, I want to see myself as still actively involved in the creation process of the technology magazine titles I have come to love.

2007 will be an exciting year for online media, especially for the Inquirer group. I’m in no position to talk about the what could have beens or the lost opportunities with GMA 7 but I honestly feel that Inquirer was left with a better deal with the new solo mode for both companies. Here’s to a fruitful 2007!

Ideas That Spread, Win.

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 29th, 2006

In today’s age of information diffusion, people still do not understand that good marketing can always sell a crap product.

Ideas that spread, win. Ideas that spread, win. Ideas that spread, win. Ideas that spread, win.

Take it away, Seth!

Ideas that spread, win.

We Have an Idea. Do You Want to be a Part of it?

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 28th, 2006

Several months ago, I ventured into the blogging industry in the same way that you drive down a dark road with your headlights on: you don’t see the entire road, but the lights in front reassure you that you’re on the right road. And on that journey I met several others who were learning the very same ropes of the international and local blogging scene, SEO optimization and the business model behind blogging. By the metaphysical rules of attraction, goodness tends to attract what is alike. So now we come to the crux of the matter.

We have an idea. Do you want to be a part of it?

What?
On the last week of January, we are planning to organize a huge blogger meet up. This is similar to the first Blogcon we held back in 2006, where we had a very good attendance. It is a follow up from the first meet where we can focus more on community building.

Why?
Several groups (media and PR) have been asking me personally if “your group” would be open to campaigns. “My group?” I don’t have a group. It just so happens that the ladder ranking system of blogs will by its very nature have more people being in the forefront of things. But I believe that this should trickle to other Filipino bloggers who produce content just as good or even better than those who are already known.

Who?
All bloggers who are open to meeting up with fellow bloggers. As Abraham put it, you are opento have your own agenda in these blogging meets, but the overall goal is to learn, share and have fun meeting the people behind the blogs. We want to see what we have, what we can do, and how we can do things. Vague, yes. But we have to start from somewhere.

How?
We have organizing committees which we have set during the Christmas blogger meet up. The criteria is simple: you should be an active blogger and you should have time to set this up. I will be heading the “find a venue” committee. If you won’t have time to help out in the logistics, maybe you can help donate logistics in the form of cash, raffle prizes, or a venue preferably in the Makati or Ortigas area.

Do you have a personal agenda?
Don’t we all? But honestly, yes! Let us say that I am in the market for finding good bloggers. More on this soon.

How Goes Ye Yuletide Traffic?

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 27th, 2006

It’s the Christmas season all right and though this is the year spent for family, reunions and friends, the one time it isn’t for is for sitting in front of the computer all day long and blogging!

Has the season washed away some of your traffic? In my stats, I’m showing about an average of 300 less visitors. And I’m not complaining. At least I know that my readers have lives. Hehe!

By the time you read this, I’m long gone! Boracay, here I am!

World Pyro Olympics Schedule for 2007

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 26th, 2006

Apparently, the World Pyro Olympics has been moved to the first month of 2007. Here is the new schedule according to their website:

05 January 2007 Friday
8:00pm Australia
9:00pm Poland

06 January 2007
8:00pm United States of America
9:00pm Spain

07 January 2007
8:00pm Germany
9:00pm United Kingdom

12 January 2007
8:00pm Denmark
9:00pm Canada

13 January 2007
8:00pm People’s Republic of China
9:00pm Philippines + All Participants

So, anyone up for a blogger + fireworks photography meet? I think we have a sponsor for tickets in the form of Mr. Yuga.

Christmas Speedlinks 25 December 2006

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 25th, 2006

Adel posts a Nuit de Noel graphic and greets everyone for the holidays

Yuga greets everyone a Merry Christmas in several languages.

Rico talks about the use of mouthwash and then greets everyone a Merry Christmas!

Markku writes his Christmas greeting early and posts photos of UP Diliman during Christmas

Noemi shares the Blessing Box gift to us

Mike Abundo says Christmas is a time to parteh

Merry Christmas to my readers! If you want to ask my take on Christmas, I go by the traditional Christian perspective. The Jesuits used to give out gifts during Christmas – the child Jesus lying on a Cross. In all its religious symbolism, there is a much simpler message – from the day the Child was born , His mission on earth was clear – to die for all men for their sins.

May we look at this example as an inspiration to find what our personal missions are and hasten to put them to effect. Merry Christmas and .. I’m out!

Don’t forget your camera this Christmas!

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 24th, 2006

One of the things I love about the holidays is taking photos of people you haven’t seen in a long time. Call me a schmuck for telling you this – but if you were going to buy a camera, last week would have been the best time to buy it so you could use it now.

In lieu of this, I direct you to Darren Rowse’s 16 Digital Photography Tips for the Christmas Holidays:

Speaking of not seeing people in a long time, congratulations to newlyweds Asia (my good friend’s “little sister”) and Ken who married last week at the Villa Escudero!

Ornusa Cadness Photo Shows Why You Should Have Girls on the Front Cover of Tech Magazines

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 23rd, 2006

Several months ago I wrote a post that explored the statement “sex sells” in commercial print publications. Though it may be true that “sex does sell” I also clarified that “so does other things.” Here is an excerpt:

So when is it okay to put a “sexy” lady on the front cover? The guideline we live by, at least here where I work, is that everything should be in context. Phoem is wearing a sexy (but elegant) swimsuit because it’s summer. She’s holding an Olympus mju series camera, known to be an all-weather resistant model. Hence, she took it out to the beach.

I will now add that a Google-friendly babe on the front cover will no doubt increase your traffic by a lot. People searching for her over the Internet will no doubt be led towards your site at one point in their search results.

Comments are now working!

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 22nd, 2006

This is a short but happy note that comments are now working again. We encountered a small DB problem which has now been resolved.

It’s a few more days till Christmas so I hope you get your last minute shopping done!

Ala Paredes on Blogging and Technology

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at December 21st, 2006

Several months ago I interviewed Ala Paredes for the Mobile Philippines‘ “Fashionably Geek” section. Here is an excerpt from this article which was written by our assistant editor Eva Gubat (link withheld!) as I interviewed her at the Hotel Philippine Plaza. Note that this article was written a few days before she migrated to Australia, so this was one of the last interviews she did for local media before leaving. Take it away, Eva:

Ala shares that she might rename her blog to “Island Girl in Narnia,” or something of that sort. She religiously updates her blog every four or five days, and thinks that the frequency will be higher once she’s in Sydney. “I’ll probably be updating it more since I’ll be so lonely and depressed.” That’s why her theme for her blog is the jeepney with the tag, Manila-Sydney. Very apt for her sojourn in Australia with her family, a sort of crazy-slash-sensible family adventure. “Isang huling sakay,” she muses.

It’s her musing, raves and rants that keep the readers of her blog coming back for more trips on her jeepney blog. Sometimes, she’s top 2, sometimes 4. “I used to think it was such a loser thing to do. Like, ‘Yuck. Why would you want to post your thoughts online?’ And then I stumbled upon this one blog by two American girls and their blog was just funny and entertaining. Maybe I’ll try this kind of blog, I thought.”
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