Thursday, October 27, 2011

The Visayas Blogging Summit 2011: A November Highlight

To the different people in my life, I am a different thing. There is one thing I aspire to be though, but I cannot attest to be that yet. Not yet.

I have always wanted to write. It is the ideal form of communication for me. Writing gives me the power that nothing else can. At the present time, it is definitely a blessing that I am doing what I like to do.

The Internet has played a very significant role in this part of my existence. It has given me the tools to let my heart out through the written word. When I discovered the art of blogging, a whole new world opened up before me.

Currently, I am not the best nor the worst blogger in the entire cyberworld. I am placing my own name under the Learning Category as I know I have yet to surpass mountains of information before I can become an effective and true blue blogger.

I have seen a lot of advertisements for enhancement programs for bloggers and wannabes, but the Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 has piqued my interest mainly because it is for FREE. For someone like me whose budget revolves around the basic necessities in life (which includes making sure my Internet is up and running especially at home), seminars and the likes with monetary requirements are definitely unappealing.

From my personal point of view, this makes the said summit different. Organized by the Cebu Bloggers, the VBS Summit is the largest one of its kind in the country today. It will take place on November 26, 2011 (Saturday) from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. Around 300 bloggers from around the archipelago is expected to join the said event. Sponsored by  SolidHosting.PHCebu Directories, BlueWaterVirtualStaffFinderWatsons and GeiserMaclang, various topics involving Personal and Professional Blogging, Social Media Marketing for Business as well as Social Media Responsibility are going to be presented for everyone to to learn more about. 

With all that in store, I am really finding it hard to contain my excitement. I'm definitely looking forward to the 26th of November. Hope to see you all there!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

New Connection, Hopeful Me

I'm on a new provider now and am loving every minute of the first few hours I am on it.

At the present, there are three major providers of Internet service in the Philippines; namely Globe, Smart and PLDT. Based on a research I have done to satisfy my own need to be connected online, there is no satisfied customer from Globe. When it comes to the company's quality of service for telecommunications (specifically mobile phone signal), it is truly reliable, and I can attest to that myself. I have been with Globe for the past 10 years, more or less. Their Internet service is another thing though. I do not know of anyone who is satisfied with their service (here in Cebu at the very least), and I am a very sociable person (I think), which means I know a lot of people.

As for Smart, I have tried both of their wired and wireless connections. While the latter is better, both are still lacking when it comes to providing for my needs. This is despite the fact that I do not really download or stream a lot of stuff. Simply put, it cannot load fast even the simplest applications.

All that I am looking for is now available with PLDT MyDSL. It's only a couple of hours, but I feel like this is really what I have been looking for. Loading sites take place flawlessly. I am even watching stuff on YouTube and listening to music online while writing this entry. This is something I was never able to do with Smart. 

That being said, I hope for better things with this new connection. Aja! To me and to my siblings (who are Internet addicts) Thank you in advance, PLDT :)

Saturday, October 8, 2011

To My Only One


One of our first photos together as a couple. Not our best looks, but definitely memorable. Taken in the monastery in Simala (Sibonga). The very same place where I fervently prayed for someone like you to become a part of my life.

A number of people have asked why you and me. We are not really opposites, but our personality (as they see us) tend to clash. What most people do not realize is how we have uncovered the real entity behind each other. We are not similar in a lot of things, but we both know that we are who need us to be.

Your presence in my life is one of the most beautiful things my existence has offered me. I sometimes share Tim McGraw's thoughts about doing something really good sometime in the past to be blessed with a guy like you.

To others, you are soft-spoken and shy. To me, you are the person who is willing to do everything for the people he loves. In you, I see the male version of me and how I am with my family. With that, you have earned my admiration and respect.

Today, you are a year older. It might not show much on your looks, but I am confident you are as responsible and mature as you need to be. I look forward to spending years with you and make you happy, not only on your birthdays but on every single day of those years together.

Happy Birthday, my love! I wish for all your wishes to come true. I love you ♥

Friday, October 7, 2011

The Colored One

Triggered by the presence of my stash of Kopiko brown sugar and its loyalty to me during the unholy hours of the day (which is right after lunchtime), I am motivated to learn more about brown sugar and everything that comes with it. Growing up in the rural area, my family and I have been using brown sugar ever since I can remember. When it comes to the kid's choco drink in the morning and at night (Yes, we drink hot choco at night) or the elder's coffee for pre-breakfast and merienda in the afternoon, it has always been brown sugar.

When I grew big enough to land in other households' kitchen, I notice the presence of white, crystalline substance as a counterpart for our brown, dull speckles that is sugar. Two things were pointed out by my ever-practical mother when I asked her about the differences. Brown sugar is cheaper (at least in our town), and it is less harmful to the human body. When I went to college and stayed in various places all throughout the four years, I was exposed and started to use white sugar (simply because it was what my aunts used). I do not see much difference except for how smaller the white version is.

Lately though, a great amount of attention has been set on the colored variation. Three-in-one coffee packs now boast about using brown sugar instead of white. In fact, my favorite brown Kopiko has its own offer that definitely puts competition to shame. I love how it is so creamy yet has that distinct Kopiko taste to it.


Anyway, back to brown sugar. Technically, brown sugar is the unrefined output, so it contains molasses still. The presence of which is responsible for the highly different color and flavor of brown sugar. More so, brown sugar is less fine, soft and moist compared to its lighter counterpart. Since it is not refined or just partially processed so, many people tend to think that brown sugar is more healthy for human use. What most people do not know is how commercial brown sugar is actually refined brown sugar added with molasses. The best kind of sugar is the natural brown sugar, which is completely unrefined and has undergone minimal processing only. It results from the very first crystallization of sugar cane juice. It comes with a darker color and stronger taste. This type of sugar comes with a larger amount of minerals, which are good for the human body.

All that being said, I would now have to work on determining whether my favorite brown coffee brand uses commercially-produced brown sugar or the real deal, natural brown sugar. I hope it is the latter.