Update 3: Glorietta ‘Bombing’ photos taken by INQUIRER.net from bloggers

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at October 19th, 2007

More than the INQUIRER breaking news page, “Disney” has been getting a lot of traffic over at his Multiply site for the photos he took of the bombing this morning at the Ayala Glorietta malls. I was actually nearby when this happened, attending a press conference for the new line of SHARP TV’s with Yuga. After leaving the Shangri-la, I saw crowds of people making an exodus towards the bus stops.

I decided to walk and wait the traffic out. I was also carrying this with me and silly, should have taken pictures too.

According to “Disney”,

Yup nasa parking ako nito pero when it happened I was like 40m away lang inside the mall….I have to walk around outside glorietta just to go back to park square 2. Yung walkway from G2 to Park Square 2 dapat yung daan ko (Yes I was at the parking lot, but about 40 meters away when it happened inside the mall. I had to walk outside Glorietta to get back to Park Square 2. I was supposed to take the walkway from the G2 to PS2.)

Tragic day for the country today. I hope this doesn’t scare investors off. Truth is, stuff like this DOESN’T HAPPEN ANYMORE.
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Schmoozing and Related Arts

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at July 30th, 2007

The conversation between Chris Pirillo and Dave Newton sure hits a vein. In his post about a KOMO TV invite which he declined, Dave Newton, talks about how “I come from a conventional old-time broadcaster background, so I’m not available for schmoozing.” This was with regard to Chris’ comment about bloggers and journalists (oh no here we go again) and how big companies are slowly holding “get to know you” blogger meets.

I’m flattered that I made a list of Seattle area bloggers, but not starry-eyed enough to accept the invitation to come and be cooed over by the TV people, no matter how sincere they may seem about recognizing my significance. See, I have been, and plan to continue, commenting upon and sometimes criticizing KOMO-TV, and many other media organizations. So, I prefer not to drink their booze and eat their hors d’oeuvres, thanks all the same. I guess I can’t help thinking I’d have a harder time blogging about them afterward, and that they–KOMO-TV and Mr. Pirillo, the self-styled self-promoter–would like that very much. [Dave Newton]

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Timbuk2 Blogger Bag Isn’t Just for Bloggers

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at July 27th, 2007

I had come from a small blogger event for the launch of the “Blogger,” a bag model that belongs to the Timbuk2 line of bags. Timbuk2′s “core competence” has to do with making very durable messenger bags as the company was built and grown by people who were into the “delivery by bike” (a.k.a. “messengers”) business. There are several reviews of the Timbuk2 Blogger in these popular gadget websites:

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SM Hypermart: 100 Bloggers Eating Simultaneously!!!

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at June 19th, 2007

I’ve been asked to act as one of the food marshals for a big blogger event in July. Here are the details:

WHO: Bloggers of all ages and sizes
WHAT: SM Hypermarket Invites Bloggers to get a “Taste of Asia”
WHEN: July 3 2007 7:00PM
WHERE: Taste Asia, SM Mall of Asia

To join just leave a comment on this blog or over here and we will gladly accommodate you.

To view the updated list of registrants, please visit this page.

As an aside, the event marshals were classified by blog niche. I really found it shocking revealing how our Google country representative classified my blog as a “lifestyle blog” (as opposed to tech) based on the contextual advertising that was being generated on my sidebar. A Bugged Life is a lifestyle blog. I have a life after all.

“Ultra Cultured Night” — Blogger Wine and Cheese Night

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at June 16th, 2007

After enjoying a stimulating retreat over at Juned’s place a few nights ago, fellow bloggers Markku and Joey, Gail and Marc have been wondering what the deal was with wine and cheese. In this light, I am organizing a blogger wine and cheese meet up tentatively on the evening of June 29 2007 or sometime in July. I guess this is also a call for help from Christine, Lori, Noemi and I guess the fab women from the Pinoy Moms Network (you know, the guys should start a Pinoy Dads Network… but I digress).
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Only in the Philippines!

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at June 12th, 2007

Postcard Text: Executioner at the turn of the century

Today, the Philippines celebrates Independence Day. A bunch of blogger friends decided to start a meme with the peculiar postcard in question. We found this postcard thanks to Juned (read: most cultured blogger in the PH!!!) who invited a couple of us over for his birthday celebration over the weekend.

The postcard is a (hilariously) shocking microcosm of the Philippines in the early 1900′s as a port city that was subject to different cultures including occupation by the Americans, the Spanish and the Japanese. We achieved independence in 1898, but lost a lot of cultural Manila – Intramuros particularly, because most of it was sacked. A lot of history books say the Philippines and the native Filipinos were short changed, and that our freedom was given for free, since there was a steep price that other countries didn’t want to take responsibility for – which included rebuilding Manila. Even at this time, Filipinos sure knew how to take things lightly.

Obviously this was a gag photo. The real would have been on a scaffold with Guardia Civils on each corner. Some historical trivia, the orginal garotte used to execute Padre Burgos. Gomez, and Zamora survived until it was burned to cinder during a fire, sometime between WWII and the EDSA Revolution. — Juned

Here are the guidelines:
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Where are the car bloggers?

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at June 4th, 2007

And a voice cries out from the Web 2.0 wilderness .. “Where are the auto enthusiast bloggers?”

Technology, entertainment, politics, religion, fashion, pets, and even support groups — we’ve got them niches covered in the Philippine blogosphere. Now I thought we got them all covered, but I had an epiphany a few days ago after posting this particular press event on Blog and Soul.

There were some who were interested to attend but attending an automobile press conference did not spike the same interest in terms of response as say, a technology or food event. This is funny too because we have a huge online motorcycle community as well as a number of Vespa bloggers. More interestingly too that Filipinos are all hot about cars and car parts. Are there no dedicated car bloggers around? And if there are, why aren’t they well known as compared to the traditional media equivalent as C!, Evo, Tech and Tuner and Top Gear?

On soft launches and something I’ve been working on

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at May 16th, 2007

Yesterday I had come from the soft opening of mag:net Cafe at the Bonifacio High Street. I’ve been giddy as a geek about this as I’ve always enjoyed the mag:net crowd in Katipunan as its been the hangout of the most friendly and non-pretentious crowd in the city, who are, to my glee also some of the most talented in the realm of art, music and geekdom. The night was opened by Gabe Mercado and the rest of SPIT Improv Theatre and was capped with Indio I playing a few songs.

Speaking of soft openings, I’d like to direct you to something I’ve been working on for a while. I’ve gone into a hiatus mode to think about my personal advocacies and thus I’m (soft) launching The Blog and Soul Movement. Thanks to the help of several mavens in PR, events, generous bloggers and organizations in new media this would not have been possible.

The launch is so soft, I don’t have a logo yet.

Bloggers aren’t journalists – they’re bloggers!

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at April 28th, 2007

Many months ago I entered the new media industry with a lot of assumptions about blogging and journalism. Having been in both sides of the fence, the blogging industry and the media are two sides of the same coin, yet have really not been tossed into the fire — this was back in 2007. One year does a lot to people.

Now that I run a blog advertising network I can lay several assumptions to rest as I’m learning so much about the blogging industry. We’re learning so much because we’re actually making things happen with the BlogBank. I’ll probably post a few of these learnings soon. They are, actually, very surprising.

16 Minute Video Interview: The Philippine Blog Awards 2007

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at March 2nd, 2007

This afternoon, Joey Alarilla interviewed Abe Olandres and myself for the Philippine Blog Awards. For the full 16 minute video interview, click here. Gail Vilanueva, the co-organizer who completes the triumvirate was sadly not able to come to the interview because she lost her voice.

Abe and I talked about the philosophy behind the awards as well as our insights on the Philippine blogosphere. We also made the formal announcement of the awards this coming March 31 at Podium 4, RCBC Plaza Auditorium at 5:00 PM.

The Philippine Blogosphere is DOWN!

Posted by Jayvee Fernandez at February 27th, 2007

Since last night there have been several anomalies with local domains and hosts. At this very instant, Yugatech is down (12 noonish), as well as several other blogs that have been jumping up and down like jack rusel terriers. PWiT mentioned something about the issue here about Dreamhost going down. Could this again be the janitor’s fault? Could this be a terrorist attack on the Philippine Blog Awards?

Could these series of events be linked to the peculiar thing going on with KFC branches in the metro area? For the past 2 days, KFC has run out of french fries side orders in the metro (are you aware of this? Are you??). Two branches in two days — I order the same thing and they serve me mashed potatoes instead of fries because of lack of stock!!!

A conspiracy theory? Only time will tell…