The Struggling Blogger

Goals and objectives for 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 04:03:00 +0000

Thus ended 2014.

Now that 2015 has started, there will always be the mandatory planning and goal-setting for the New Year. Don’t ask, it’s a blogging thing.

Actually, it’s not. I just want to sound clever.

Anyway, this is just a full-blown blog post of what I already posted in my Facebook page before 2014 ended.

Goals and objectives for 2015

1. Continue the positivity

I have always been a pessimist, a realist-pessimist to be more accurate. But well-meaning friends often tell me to “loosen up” and “BE POSITIVE,” which I did especially in the last few days of 2014. I hope to continue and prolong that positivity this 2015 as much as I can.

2. Read more

I used to read a lot when I was younger. I read almost everything. I was buying books at a time when I cannot still afford to buy books. There was no particular subject or book genre for me. I would buy anything that would catch my interest then. Be it a sci-fi, self-improvement, crafts, computer, or even paranormal – anything! And I would definitely read them.

But as fate would have it, priorities changed and I was faced with “real-world” issues that I was not able to catch up on my reading. The number of books that I have not yet read has stacked up and I did not care... or did I?

I do, that is why I would like to get back to reading this year, and I have a lot of books shortlisted already.

3. Write more

It is intentional that “Read more” is before “Write more” because a “writer is a reader first.” Anyone who wants to be a writer needs to read... and read a lot.

Since I slacked in my reading, it won’t be a surprised thing to follow that I would also slack up in my writing, which I did, and how!

With 3 unfinished books to write, I really should WRITE MORE to be able to finish them, and this early I am already excited.

I know I will not be limited to just 3 books.

4. Stay focused

Distractions abound and it does not take much to distract me. A single “notification” can do a lot of damage if I am not really conscious of my activities. So, I am telling myself right now to stay focused if I ever want to accomplish anything this year, more so if I want this to be an awesome 2015.

Again Roy, STAY FOCUSED.

5. Pay it forward

It is a nice idea and it does not limit the flow of kindness to a small circle which is what “paying it back” usually does.

Paying it forward does not always mean financial or material things – sometimes a kind word, a gentle tap or a push, an encouragement, or even just the mere presence for someone can mean a lot.

We all have been a recipient of kindness at some point, I know I am, and it would be nice to have an opportunity to be able to pay it forward.

And that, wraps up my objective for this year. Who knows? I might even get back to active blogging in 2015?

Just 10 minutes?

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 04:56:00 +0000

What can we accomplish in just 10 minutes?

Sometimes we think it’s too little an amount of time to really do anything. After all, it’s “just 10 minutes.” That is why when we do have an extra 10 minutes, we used it to do something trivial instead of doing something really worthwhile.

The mindset is that, “It’s just 10 minutes, I really cannot finish anything in that little time anyway” and this is often supported by, “I do not want to start anything I won’t be able to finish.”

Makes sense, right? NOT!

This morning it struck me.

If I can use “just 10 minutes” to check my Facebook and/or Twitter, why can’t I use the same “just 10 minutes” to draft a blog post, write a rough outline of a part of my book, proofread a finished work, or learn something I can use on my next project?

That, I guess, makes even better sense.

A rough work… an unfinished project… a disorganized note, is definitely better than starting from scratch. It can be done in 10 minutes. Just because it was not finished does not mean it will never be finished. It can be picked up again where we left off when we have time, even if that is just another 10 minutes.

And let’s be honest, that time used in trivial matters like checking your social media account because it’s “just 10 minutes” did not really end in that amount of time, right? In the end, the amount of time used is actually more than just10 minutes. That means, we actually have MORE than just 10 minutes if we want to.

Got any more excuses?

By the way, this is just me talking to myself. If it somehow resonates to you, feel free to ride on the cable.

You’re welcome.

I used to be a blogger.

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 15:49:00 +0000

I used to be a blogger.

Yes, I was. And I must say that I wasn’t just a blogger, but I was an active blogger. I blogged in the morning, I blogged in the afternoon, I blogged in the evening. Heck! I used to even dream about blogging!

It was fun, addicting and therapeutic. Being in my own little corner in the blogosphere, pouring my soul out through my blog, unmindful of the fact that no one was reading my posts.

Then I met other bloggers online. I began to have readers and I started reading other blogs. I began interacting online, made some friends and my own little corner on the web got wider. It made blogging more interesting.

I also learned that I am not confined to my own personal experiences in blogging. I can also share my thoughts and views on what’s happening around me – in sports, politics, entertainment, business, and anything I can share my two-cent’ worth of opinion. Blogging could be my voice!

So I did! Delved into politics when I used to be apolitical. Shared my thoughts on movies and personalities when I am really not much into the entertainment industry. Talked about boxing when I do not even follow the sport.

And this is what made me more excited about blogging – that I can earn money through my blogs! Goody! Doing something I really love and earning money on the side. What could be better than that?!

But it wasn’t easy. I began hearing about search engine optimization (SEO), online advertisement, online affiliate marketing, online writing opportunities, and other online money-making buzz!

Then I heard about blogging events and bloggers’ meet-ups and I said to myself, “Hey! I’m a blogger, I should be there!”

So I started attending blogging events and bloggers’ meet-ups. Met bloggers in the real world and heard some inspiring, motivational, as well as some horrific blogging experiences. It was kind of weird at first though… it felt like I was listening to the blogs talking.

Getting my voice heard on current issues… income opportunities… inspiring bloggers… what could go wrong?!

Fast forward… I now consider myself lucky if I could get at least a blog post every six months.

What happened? Honestly, I don’t know. I just lost my blogging zest.

Never got to see those floating moolahs online, never got to understand SEO, never got any decent writing opportunity and got too tired on sinking my teeth on issues I don’t even want to take a bite into.

And bloggers? Just like any real people – some are good, some are bad, some are real, some are nice, some are mean, and some are everything in between.

At the end of the day, blogging was no longer fun.

I had much fun… freedom, when blogging for me was just sitting there in my own little corner and writing just about anything that might only make sense to me… when blogging was as natural as breathing and there were no keywords to consider and no target audience to think about, but just letting your soul breathe.

Blogging was fun when a blogger was not defined – SE0, events, product launchings, influencers, marketers, public relations, money-makers, reviewers, fact (which were often just opinions) presenters, and the like. I am not saying that those are bad, but they just don’t fit me.

I miss my old blogging self… believe me, I used to be a blogger.

(And if you noticed that I seem to cut my post and omitted some points, it only shows how bad I am a blogger right now)

One blog post at a time

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 09:35:00 +0000

It’s been a while and I really don’t know if this time it would be for real. I’m talking about my blogging mojo.

I cannot count the times that I’ve been in and out of blogging lately. This time, I am no longer sure if I am really getting back to blogging or it’s just another itch that I needed to scratch. Maybe in the next few days, you might see me spewing blog posts left and right until such time I lose my steam again. Or maybe even after this post, I might just get lax in my blogging until I bump my head for the nth time. I really don't know.

You may not believe it, but there was a time when I all I could think about was blogging – I’d write a blog post in the morning, I’d write a blog post in the afternoon, and I’d write a blog post in evening. Sometimes, I would even write a blog post in between writing blog posts... if that would even make sense.

Oh! I did not mention, I was maintaining more than one blog then... more than ten, actually. That was why I was blogging like there was nothing else to do in this world.

I love writing! I honestly thought I could do it forever!

But so wrong was I!

Blogging got sidetracked for a number of reasons, but the main reason was really I LET IT BE.

Yes, I got distracted... I got confused... I was bombarded with problems and concerns... I was not able pay for hosting and domains... I got busy... and I got a lot more excuses!

All of those reasons really would not have mattered if I did not allow blogging to be on the sideline.

Now that I am finally resolved to really get back to blogging, I still have my apprehensions if I can stay this time. I know I may not deliver the same passion that I used to have four or five years ago, but I would like to believe that I still have the blogger in me... albeit, struggling.

For now, I’ll say I will just take this one blog post at a time.

What do we make of that inspiration?

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 14:42:00 +0000

“You are such an inspiration!”

“You inspire us! We are proud of you!”

“You are really inspiring!”

We easily blurt those out every time we see an inspirational icon, we hear a great achievement, or when we hear an inspiring story. You know, like those typical rags-to-riches Cinderella story... winning against all odds... an impossible feat accomplished... or a David slaying his personal Goliath.

Easily, we are inspired and there’s nothing wrong with that... but what do we make of that inspiration?

How many of us can really raise our hands and claim, “I’ve succeeded because I am inspired by this person?” Or say, “I’ve changed after hearing that story.”

Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Nick Vujicic of Life Without Limits, CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida and his Kariton project, the drug dependent and convicted criminal who turned over a new leaf and is now an evangelist of God, the handicapped father who singlehandedly raised his children until they finished college, or the orphan who refused to go the way of the street children but instead helped and pushed himself until he succeeded against all odds. The list could go on, and each one not lacking in awe-inspiring details.

Thus, they inspire us.

This is the inner grouch in me talking. When we say, “You are an inspiration.” Are we really inspired or are we just acknowledging that person’s achievement? When the tears dried up after being touched by a person and his/her inspiring story, do we stand up and work on that inspiration? Do we dare say to ourselves, “Yes, just like them I can do it!” and then, ACTUALLY do it?

Or just like any feel-good movie – after going out of the movie house we are thrown back into the reality of life and we begin cursing the traffic, cursing the guy who cut us in line, cursing our bosses and co-workers, cursing those who took advantage of us and those who refused to help us, and sometimes even cursing ourselves. As we go back to real life and realize how hard life has been for us, we are once again filled with wishes and “if only.”

Until another form of inspiration strikes us again.

When we say, “You are an inspiration!” we are more than just acknowledging that person’s achievement, because the other part of the statement is we are also acknowledging that the person and his/her story touched our lives. And there’s no better affirmation for that person, that he/she is indeed an inspiration, than to see us actually make something of that inspiration and use it to improve our own lives.

Yes, be inspired... but then, work on that inspiration. Let us use it to fuel our dreams.

Life hack: WD-40 uses

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 05:42:00 +0000

I saw this on Facebook a few days ago. I’m not really a user of WD-40, but after reading this, I am now planning to keep can available at home.

Been seeing life hack videos on YouTube lately, and being a McGyver fan, I always try to take note of them. The versatility of WD-40, as mentioned in this article below, is amazing.

Just a note though, as of posting, I haven’t tried any of those in the list here... yet. Here’s the article.

I NEVER KNEW THIS!

What IS The Main Ingredient of WD-40?

Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40? No Cheating.

WD-40 Who knew?

I had a neighbor who bought a new pickup. I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason). I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.

He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do, probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.

Another neighbor came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off. It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I was impressed!

WD-40 who knew?

"Water Displacement #40".

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953, by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company.

Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'Water Displacement' Compound. They were finally successful for a formulation, with their fortieth attempt, thus WD-40. The 'Convair Company' bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts.

Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you. When you read the 'shower door' part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as on glass. It's a miracle!

Then try it on your stove-top. It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

WD-40 Uses:

1. Protects silver from tarnishing.

2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.

3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

4. Gives floor that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.

5. Keeps the flies off of Cows, Horses, and other Farm Critters, as well. (Ya gotta love this one!!!)

6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.

7. Removes lipstick stains.

8. Loosens stubborn zippers.

9. Untangles jewelry chains.

10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

12. Keeps ceramic / terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.

13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.

14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.

15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.

17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicles doors.

18. It removes that nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen flooring.

It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off.

Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks.

19. Remove those nasty Bug guts that will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly!

20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

21. Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers...

22. Rids kids rocking chair and swings of squeaky noises.

23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.

24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.

26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.

27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.

28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.

29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

31. Removes grease splatters from stove-tops.

32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.

33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.

34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

35. Removes all traces of duct tape.

36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain.

37. Florida's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.

38. The favorite use in the state of New York, it protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements.

39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose.

Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states.

40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch.

41. It is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray it on the marks and wipe with a clean rag.

42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!

43. If you spray it inside a wet distributor cap, it will displace the moisture, allowing the engine to start.

P.S.

As for that Basic, Main Ingredient.......

Well.... it's FISH OIL....

Now This Is Definitely Worth SHARING!!

Well, I’m definitely buying a can on my next trip to the hardware store.

They put an age limit to creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 06:00:00 +0000

I am most tempted to call myself a frustrated songwriter, but following the principle of “There’s no such thing as a frustrated writer!” I can’t really call myself that. Because I am not... based on that premise, at least.

Still, I am frustrated.

Frustrated that somebody put an age limit to creativity... an age limit to expression... an age limit to art. No wonder I can’t make it. I am overage!

And here I thought discrimination against age in our country only happens in companies during their employee application processing.

I am referring to the Elements Singing-Songwriting Camp which holds an annual week-long in-house songwriting camp for aspiring songwriters and attended by the country’s top musicians and songwriters where they share tips and encourage composers-wannabes.

The FAQ page is VERY SPECIFIC – YOU MUST BE BETWEEN 18-35 at the time of application.

I’ve been joining songwriting contests ever since I thought I can write songs.

Yes, I do not have any musical education. I can play the guitar just enough for me play some songs. I do not have a really good singing voice, but I have no plans of joining American Idol or The Voice.

I am just a poet who likes adding melodies to some of his poems.

Songwriting contests are for songwriters... supposedly. How was I to know that it is for songwriters who can sing well?

Now, here’s a songwriting camp that can help me hone my skills... hopefully. But I’ve been barred the door even before I can knock.

I’m 45... is it too late for me? Late bloomers are no bloomers? Too little, too late?

You bet I’m bitter!

But it’s their show... their game... their rules... and there’s nothing I can do about it, other than rant here in my blog.

It could have been a good opportunity for me to break into mainstream... but maybe I really do not need mainstream... I’m in a league of my own.

"There is no such thing as a frustrated writer!"

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 14:23:00 +0000

This post is about the first time I became a guest speaker at a writing event in SM City Clark on August 27, 2011

It was far from perfect, I know. But my first talk just went fine, nonetheless.

I goofed up on a few lines, but I do hope I was able to inspire young people to write. It was my first, though I offer no excuses.

It was a golden opportunity to make a difference… I just hope I did.

Just in case you’re wondering what I’m talking about, it’s the announcement of the winners of the inter-high school short story writing contest here in Angeles City, and I was the guest speaker.

And below, is the full excerpt of my speech, just in case some of the attendees found my voice inaudible or were just too anxious for the results to be revealed, or both… and all who wants to know what I said.

I once met a writer during an event in Manila. She was writing for four different magazines, in as many different topics.

I started a conversation with her, asking her how she started writing for those magazines. I was trying to get as much information as I can about the profession. And during the course of our conversation, I told her, “You know, I am a frustrated writer.” What she replied to me was something that would be ringing in my consciousness for the years to come.

She said to me, “That’s nonsense! There is no such thing as a frustrated writer!”

Unfortunately, she was not able to elaborate on that, because she was called and our conversation was cut short.

To be honest, I can no longer remember the name or even the face of that writer. But I will never forget her words… “There is no such thing as a frustrated writer!”

That was in 2004.

I started writing poems in 1986. I was 18 years old. I wrote poems about how I felt, where I’ve been, what I saw, prayers, wishes, and everything else in between. I wrote poems year in and year out. Putting them all in my notebook which I labeled REFLECTION.

When I met that writer in 2004, I was already on my third notebook. And after that conversation with her, I still continued writing poems.

One day, as I was holding my notebooks, reading all my poems that I wrote, I remembered the writer’s words… and I thought, “Here I am. I have written all these poems. I was able to capture my feelings. I was able to express myself. So, where’s the frustration in that?! There is no one or nothing that is stopping me to write. I can write whenever, wherever and whatever I want. And as long as I can express myself freely in writing, I cannot really call myself a frustrated writer.”

Indeed, the writer was correct! There is no such thing as a frustrated writer!

However, there was a catch. It was only I, and a few selected friends, who read my poems. I wanted to share my poetry. I wanted to have my poems published. Maybe that was the frustration I was referring to when I was talking to that writer.

But, is that really frustration? I don’t think so.

When you start wishing for your work to get published… when you start wanting to share your work to many people… that, my young friends, is where the dreaming begins.

That is why we are here… because you started to dream. All of you who wrote and submitted a story have already started their dream. And to some, that dream will come true tonight. Congratulations! You did a great job!

To those who weren’t as lucky, it doesn’t mean the end of a dream… it is just life’s way of telling you, “Hang on. You’ll have your moment just yet.”

Please remember, some dreams do take time. I was 18 when I started. I was 43 when my first book was published. And in those 25 years in between were a lot of stories of joys, rejections, sadness, hopes, triumphs and frustrations. But all throughout, the writing went on. I never stopped.

Even though there wasn’t any sign of my dream coming true, I just kept on writing… because, in my heart I knew, it will happen. So I kept on writing. That is why when the opportunity came, I was ready.

So I suggest, if you really love to write, do not wait for any contest. Write anytime you want. Write when you have an opportunity to write. Write whenever you feel that there is something inside you that wants to be written. Just write… because the act of writing sustains the dream.

And as I end my talk, allow me to share with you the last poem in my book REFLECTION… the poem “Dreams Do Come True.”

Dreams do come true
Believe me
They do

Maybe not when we want them
They come true when
They needed to be

Not how we want them to be
But even better
Isn’t it swell?

Dreams do come true
And I hope that mine
Will inspire you

So my dear students, please… keep writing… keep dreaming.

Thank you very much, and good evening.

And that was my first public talk as a writer… and I survived just the same.

Thank you.

Giving up on The Struggling Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Thu, 30 May 2013 06:11:00 +0000

It was inevitable. As much as I like to keep the dot com URL for this blog, I finally decided not to.

I finally gave up.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the on-and-off loading of my blog makes me want to give up. Now, I did. I had to contend myself with the .blogspot extension just so I can be sure that it would load every time I share a link.

It was either that or I would finally give up The Struggling Blogger totally.

I waited for propagation... nay! Too long, more than two months actually. Still, the problem persists.

So I guess, with this decision it would be smooth sailing from here. Of course, unless Blogger itself would have a problem... which I pray would not happen.

As I’ve said, I had time. From now, it’s back to basic blogging for me.

Thank you very much.

Why do we choose the lesser evil?

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:23:00 +0000

Choose the lesser evil... this is a cliché that we hear all too often, especially during election.

But why do we need to choose the lesser evil? Is evil really the only choice we have?

It is really sad that almost everybody believed that to be a fact – that the better option really is to choose the lesser evil.

It is an accepted fact, unfortunately, that politics is dirty. Although some would correct that statement saying, “Politics is not dirty, politicians are,” which does not really make it any better.

It is often said that even if an honest man gets elected, even if he has no personal agenda (if such exists), oftentimes he has to follow the system. Or, to make it more politically correct, the system will eat him. If not, he might not get anything done because he won’t get any support from those who are already “into the system,” or worse, he might just quit if he can’t stand how filthy it can get inside.

If he indeed gets into the system, and experiences its “benefits,” he might enjoy it and appreciates the “advantages” that go along with it.

That would leave us to where we were before, a situation where our only choice is the lesser evil. Choosing those who are “at least” doing something.

Do we still have hope? Are we supposed to be contented with “piece-meal” public service? Is the lesser evil really the best we can get?

We all want a change for the better.

Maybe it’s time to change our way of thinking and start looking out for the non-evil, and if indeed we find one, let’s pray that he would stand his ground and not join the system. This, however, will only happen if we continue supporting him after the election – even if we do not get any direct benefit from it.

It’s a long shot, but maybe there’s still a chance. Maybe we can still hope. It won’t happen overnight. It may not happen this election, maybe not next year, or even in the next election.

Little by little... inch by inch... if we keep on improving our choices, if we keep on demanding for the better option, and imparting this to the next generation, maybe it might happen. No matter how far in the future it might be... it can happen.

Because choosing the lesser, or even the least, among the evils before us, is just not the right way to make a choice.

iBlog9 - The Philippine Blogging Summit year 9

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:04:00 +0000

It’s iBlog season once again, now on its ninth year, iBlog9 is scheduled on May 31 and June 1, 2013 (Friday and Saturday) at the Malcolm Theater, UP College of Law, UP Diliman Quezon City.

Registration for the said event is now open. Just proceed to the iBlog9 event post to register. Yes, the annual blogging summit is still FREE!

I started attending the yearly blogging event in iBlog5 (2009) and has been attending it ever since. I’m looking forward to attend again this year and see old blogging buddies, as well as meet new friends.

The schedule of program for the first day of iBlog9 is:

Day 1 AGENDA (May 31)

9:00 to 9:20 Flag ceremony, prayer, participant intro (limited)

9:20 – 9:40 Understanding the Blogger Psyche - Jonel Uy

9:50 to 10:10 Blogging as an effective Content Marketing Tool for Businesses - Ben Francia

10:20 to 10:35 break

10:35 – 10:55 Empowerment in Digital Marketing - Grace Bondad Nicolas

11:05 – 11:25 Working with brands either for your business or advocacy, and even both - Jeoffrey Solas

11:35 to 11:55 Sponsor Talk: Sun iMessenger: blog marketing case study - Louie Oviedo, President & CEO of Greetings Unlimited Inc.

12:05 to 1:05 Lunch break

1:05 – 1:25 How to Get the Influencers Write About Your Startup - Jonha Revesencio

1:35 – 1:55 Bloggers and political organizations – the road to 2016 - Mark Pere Madrona

2:05 – 2:25 Fighting corruption online and offline - Angel Bombarda

2:35 to 2:55 Income & Opportunities through Blogging - Khoa Bui

3:05 to 3:20 BREAK

3:20 to 3:40 Bloggers as Digital Influencers - Janette Toral

4:00 sponsor raffle, shirts raffle, and group photo

The second day topics are:

DAY 2 AGENDA (June 1)

9:00 to 9:20 Flag ceremony, prayer, participant intro (limited)

9:20 to 9:40 Blogging and Social Thought Leadership - Jason Cruz

9:50 to 10:10 Why do we blog? - Wendell Glenn Cagape

10:20 to 10:35 break

10:35 to 10:55 The Art of Interviewing & Quoting - Arvin Ello

11:05 to 11:25 Blogging and Social Media Goodness - Carlo Angelo Gonzales

11:35 to 11:55 Sponsor Talk

12:05 to 1:05 Lunch

1:05 to 1:25 Building your Identity as a Video Blogger - Randolph Novino

1:35 to 1:55 The Rise of the Mommy bloggers in the Philippines - Rhodora Espiritu-Valdez

2:05 to 2:25 Avoiding Information Redundancy - Jay Agonoy

2:35 to 2:55 Working as a homebased blogger - Christian Melanie Lee

3:05 to 3:20 Break

3:20 to 3:40 Q &A Legal Issues in Blogging - Atty. JJ Disini

4:00 to 4:20 The Future of Blogging: Greater or Less Influence? - Manuel L. Quezon III

4:30 sponsor raffle, shirts raffle, and group photo

The 2-day event will be hosted by Flow Galindez.

REGISTER NOW and see you all at the iBlog9.

Do politicians know intellectual property right?

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Do politicians know intellectual property rights?

Maybe they do. I mean, they should, right? How can they serve and protect the people with whom they make their promise to if they do not know the law and understand the rights of the people.

Maybe they really don’t know, or choose not to understand... maybe they just don’t care.

Every election period, we are bombarded by their campaign jingles left and right. For insurance, for immediate recall, familiarity and popularity’s sake, these campaign jingles are bastardized versions of today’s popular songs.

From local to foreign songs, nothing is spared. As long as it’s a hit, especially if it went viral, it will surely be used by them during campaign period.

That is why we are now hearing distorted lyrics of familiar songs like Pusong Bato, Sirena and other popular songs today. Of course, Gangnam Style and Call Me Maybe were not spared. And since campaign period is still far from over, I won’t be surprised if somebody catches up with Gwiyomi.

But... did they ask permission? Were royalties paid in using the songs as campaign jingles?

If the answer is yes, well and good. I wish that is really the case and is being done in our country today.

If not, which is most probably the case, I can think of three possible reasons why.

First, they don’t know. They are not aware, because it was their people, the “supporters we can’t control” who took care of the preparation of the jingles and they have an understanding that everything has been taken care of... including rights and royalties. They just have no time for those details.

Second, it has been going on since time immemorial. Politicians were using popular songs as campaign jingles and nobody was saying it was wrong. Sure, just because no foul was called doesn’t mean there was no harm done. And just because its tradition doesn’t mean it’s right. Try delicadeza.

And third, they don’t know. They don’t know they should ask permission. They don’t know they should respect intellectual property rights. Worse, they don’t know intellectual property rights.

An intellectual property right, as it appears to be, is not a big thing here in our country. That is why anybody can just use anybody’s idea or creation, even claim it as their own, and get away with it.

Campaign jingles are no exceptions. Oftentimes, they are even applauded for being so smart to fit witty lyrics, quotations, slogans and the candidate’s name in the ready-made measured melody.

I know it won’t really solve our country’s problems, but as an aspiring songwriter who occasionally uploads original compositions in my YouTube channel, I can’t help but think about it every time I hear those campaign jingles.

Maybe it’s just me... maybe intellectual property right isn’t really such a big deal in our country.

Evolution of Music

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:12:00 +0000

I saw a neat video of a group called Pentatonix, the video is called Evolution of Music where they sang a medley of songs from 11th Century, 1600's to 2010's and they performed they songs a capella.

Being a lover of music, I know I just have to share the video on my blog, so here it is.

Just in case you're wondering what were some of the songs you don't recognize, here's a list of the songs as posted on their YouTube link:

11th century-

Salve Regina

1600s-

Canon in D - Pachelbel

1800s-

Symphony No. 5 - Beethoven

1910s-

Danny Boy - Frederic Weatherly

1920s-

Old Man River - Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II

1930s-

Minnie The Moocher - Cab Calloway

1940s-

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - The Andrew Sisters

1950s-

I Walk The Line - Johnny Cash

La Bamba - Ritchie Valens

1960s-

Stand By Me - Ben E King

Barbara Ann - Beach Boys

I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles

Respect - Aretha Franklin

1970s-

ABC - Jackson 5

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

1980s-

Celebration - Kool & The Gang

Don't Stop Believin' - Journey

Thriller - Michael Jackson

1990s-

Can't Touch This - MC Hammer

...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears

Say My Name - Destiny's Child

I Want It That Way - The Backstreet Boys

2000s

Hey Ya! - Outkast

Drop it Like Its Hot - Snoop Dogg

Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

Hips Don't Lie - Shakira

Single Ladies - Beyoncé

I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

I Gotta Feelin - Black Eyed Peas

2010s-

Baby - Justin Bieber

We Found Love - Rihanna

Some Nights - Fun.

Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye

Gangnam Style - Psy

Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen

I won't deny I recognized Barbara Ann in the 1960's portion. I was surprised though that La Bamba was in the 1950's.

Anyway, music from whatever year is always great for me.

Although I wish there'll be more sensible songs written these days.

Yes, I hashtag on Facebook. So sue me!

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:23:00 +0000

I don’t know why it bothers you. You are not the marshal here on Facebook, are you?

Yes, I know. Hashtags only work in Twitter and it doesn’t have any function in these talking walls.

But, I hashtag on Facebook. So, sue me!

Why do I really put hashtags here? Then again, is it really your business?

Social media is like real world – you deal and meet a lot of people, only it’s virtual. But just like walking on a crowded street, you may not always like everything that you see. You may not favor the actions of some people.

Do you have to react every time?

If it does not really cause harm to others, especially to you, why should you bother? Haven’t you heard of live and let live?

We roll at different beats. What may be cool to me may not be cool to you, and vice versa. But I am not mingling in your business, am I?

Is everything making sense now?

Tell me, do my hashtags bother you? Do they cause you unspeakable harm? Do they give you endless anxieties and sleepless nights?

Then maybe, I ought to be sued.

But if not, leave them hashtags alone.

This is a public wall... this is social media.

Live and let live.

iBlo9 - The 9th Philippine Blogging Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:01:00 +0000

One of my favorite events for bloggers is just around the corner – the iBlog9: The 9th Philippine Blogging Summit is scheduled on May 31 and June 1, 2013 at the Malcolm Theater, College of Law, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City.

Janette Toral is now calling for speakers for iBlog9. Interested bloggers who want to share their knowledge may check the iBlog9 post for more details. The deadline for submission of topic is on April 15, 2013.

Usual topics on the first day of the blogging summit are about blogging for businesses and advocacies, while second day topics are focused on general blogging subjects like Blogging 101, SEO, social media, earning online and more.

All bloggers are welcome... yay! They are ENCOURAGED to share their experiences during the event. So please submit your topic for proposal on or before April 15, 2013.

Likewise, iBlog9 is also calling for sponsors for the event.

This event is free for all bloggers who want to attend, thanks to all the sponsors who generously supported this annual gathering of bloggers and would-be bloggers from all over the country.

Companies and individuals who want to support iBlog9 may go to this link for the details of the sponsorship package.

Meanwhile, early in the year, my children were already asking about the schedule of iBlog9 because they have been attending this event since 2011. I guess this year won’t be any different for us.

So here’s looking forward to the 2013 blogging summit – the iBlog9.

See you all there!

Almost wanting to give up... again

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:43:00 +0000

It is very frustrating and honestly, it’s making me want to give up... again. I am referring to this new struggling blogger blog.

I was very happy and excited that I was able to revive The Struggling Blogger and have it hosted in Blogger for free. Unfortunately, taking a free ride surely has its consequences.

If you are reading this now, then that’s good! I am lucky this time. This site loaded well now. But most the time, the site would not load and instead, this message shows up...

The same is true with my other domains that I tried to transfer to Blogger – Travel To Angeles City, Womenagerie, and Roysville.

I was sure I followed the instructions given by Blogger. The sites were loading fine at the start... until it started showing the message. It’s very frustrating.

I tried contacting Name.com where I was buying my domains. They were quick to respond, I appreciate that. They said there were conflicts with DNS and Google’s configuration with blogs and talk about things I do not really understand, being a non-techie. But they added that they made some tweaking, doing some changes in my account and said everything will be okay soon.

Unfortunately, it’s not. It’s an on-and-off thing. The sites would load fine one time and then the error message would show again after a few minutes. What’s making it more frustrating is that it happens after I tweeted and shared on Facebook my new post because I thought the problem was already fixed.

Really, very frustrating! It’s making me want to give up!

Just when I knew I have a lot to say... I have a lot to write, this has to happen!

Maybe I really need to give up! Give up my domains, I mean. I will just rely and be satisfied with strugglingblogger.blogspot.com instead. It will even save me from paying the annual domain renewal fee.

So much for branding. So much for identity.

I just had to vent out.

Subscribe to me, maybe?

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:23:00 +0000

In this post, I will make a pitch. I will make an appeal. I will ask you... I’m sorry, I mean I am requesting that you subscribe to my blog.

Really, it will mean a lot for this once-again-newbie blogger.

For your convenience, here is the subscription form:

Or, you may also subscribe through your reader, if you prefer that way.

Thank you very much. You’re very kind.

“What’s in it for me?!”

I know. I’m expecting that. I know I really cannot pull a fast one. That is really a valid question and needs to be answered.

Why should you subscribe?

Aside from lifting the ego of this struggling blogger, you will be updated on my latest posts and take a peek on what’s happening on my side of the globe... or at least what I choose to share.

But who cares what I have to say?

You do... or at least, the curious side in you. We all have that. You wouldn’t want to miss a chance to feed that curious side, right?

I mean, don’t you want to know why I believe that while you claim to hate bullying, in whatever form, you may have actually supported one or have been a part of it, without you realizing it? Whether you admit it or not.

Or, don’t you want to hear (or read) my take on the difference between a fact and an opinion? Which is of course based on my own opinion, supported by some facts... or not.

And you wouldn’t want to miss a chance to see me make a fool of myself by speaking my mind out, right? With few (okay, more than few) grammar blunders here and there.

Used to be that whenever a blogger wants to increase the number of his subscribers, he would hold a contest where one of the conditions in joining was subscription via email. Then, you’ll see the number of subscribers dramatically declining after the contest.

We are way pass that!

But if you subscribe now and I hold a contest in the future, which I might, you will be the first one to know. It’s not a requirement, but it’s an advantage.

By the way, if you were subscribed to the old struggling blogger blog, I’m sorry but that no longer works. You need to subscribe to the new struggling blogger again.

After stating my case, I do hope I was able to convince you. So let me try to pull this cliché for my ending...

Hey! This is a new blog, and this is crazy. But here’s my link, so subscribe to me, maybe?

A blogging newbie once again...

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:07:00 +0000

Second post and I still cannot tell heads from tails. As you can see, aside from the header of this blog, I haven’t changed anything yet. It looks like it may take a while. Honestly, I feel like a blogging newbie once again.

Do I intend to make one post a day now? Because I just uploaded my first post yesterday and here I am writing another one. Can I do it?

No. I can’t do that and I really have no intention of having a one-post-a-day blog. It would be nice if I can pull that, though. But I did mention to make good use of the time until my domain expires, right?

If you were thinking (granted that you have been to my old blog before) about what happened to my previous blog posts, I managed to save them. I tried uploading them here but it was taking forever. That was then I decided that I should just start this one on a clean slate... a new struggle.

I may upload some old posts every now and then, granted that they are relevant and are not really time-sensitive. They could make for good blog fillers.

Basically, I am just ranting here, trying to get my blogging groove back. There are a lot to write about. A lot things happening all over, all at the same time.

But would I get back to the old “bandwagon blogger?” Writing about something because everybody is talking about it? It’s not that it’s bad. It’s just that I may not always have sensible things to say about the subject at hand.

Writing about something just for the sake of writing about something is bad. Two-cent’s worth is cliché.

Now, I am getting myself into trouble. Really, I should shut up!

And I will... for now.

Why I (almost) wanted to give up blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Roy) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:09:00 +0000

Blogging has been my life. It has been my way of expression... my outlet. It has kept me company since I was left on my own. I love blogging, to say the least. Friends who really knew me know what blogging means to me.

But I wanted to stop. Not just rest, but stop totally... and permanently.

Somehow, I lost my blogging zest. I am even having a hard time just starting this post.

When I started blogging back in 2008, it was like I finally found what I wanted to do in my life... and that is to write. Finally I was doing something that I was really enjoying.

Lately, however, it’s not fun anymore. It was frustrating, really.

First, I lost my free-hosting. Fine, you cannot have your free ride forever, but the feeling of being dropped off abruptly, without any warning and even without any explanation why, makes me feel that I do not deserve to be respected enough to be given courtesy.

Then, one by one, I am losing my domains because I cannot renew them anymore. I do not have enough resources to keep them. In fact, I am already contemplating in giving up The Struggling Blogger too.

I’m done! It’s all over!

I’ve had my share of the blogging limelight. I guess that was enough for me. It was good while it lasted.

Am I really ready to give up blogging? I thought I was. I do not have resources to pay for hosting, and I learned that taking a piggy-back ride for a blog host is not really safe. Nor can I maintain my domains too.

Yup! Saying sayonara to blogging is really an option.

I learned however that The Struggling Blogger will expire on December. No problem, I can just wait for that and let it remain idle.

However, I do not know why, but I found myself tweaking on my Blogger profile learning how I can host my domain there.

To cut the story short, I am here trying to keep my head afloat on the blogging tide.

It’s like starting all over again... this being the first post of The Struggling Blogger on Blogger.com

Whether or not this will go on beyond December, I cannot say at this point. I am not sure if I can pay for the renewal of my domain by that time. One thing I can say right now is that I will make good use of the time between now and the domain’s expiration useful – to revive the old, vintage, I-care-not-what-others-will-say style of writing... until I decide to stop again.

For now, The Struggling Blogger is back.

Note: If you think that the reason why I haven’t written anything for quite a spell was because I wanted to give up blogging... you are right.