PBA: Visayas Bloggers Are You Ready?

"To live and let live, without clamour for distinction or recognition; . . . to write truth first on the tablet of one's own heart -- this is the sanity and perfection of living, and my human ideal.” - Mary Baker Eddy

It is time again to recognize Filipino talents. It is time again to acknowledge finest Filipino bloggers who have contributed their blogging skills and talents to serve the very purpose of their existence in the blogosphere.

Showcasing the talents of various Filipinos in the world of blogging this year, the Philippine Blog Awards 2009 dubbed as “One Blogging Nation” is now ready to recognize great Filipino bloggers who are worth of recognition. The excitement this year is far different compared to the previous years as PBA now added more special awards to fully recognize bloggers of the nation as whole. Also, it will now be held in the country's main lands; Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

This coming 18th of October at Ayala City Sports - Cebu Business Park, Visayas finest bloggers will gather together to recognize fellow visayan bloggers who have made valuable contribution and have their names marked on the Philippine blogosphere. On this date, we shall recognize the Best Visayan Blog, Visayas Bloggers Choice, Best Visayas Locale Blog, and Best Visayas Nature Blogger.

So to all Visayas bloggers out there, are you ready? If you are, then why not pre-register now to reserve a seat. Pre-registration for Visayas is now open. Simply fill out the form HERE and presto, you are done. Also, please visit the official Philippine Blog Awards Page for further details or any updates.

The Philippine Blog Awards is a yearly event that aims to give recognition to outstandings blogs in but not limited to the Filipino Blogging Community. The Philippine Blog Awards is organized by the Philippine Blogger Awards Inc. a non-stock and non-profit corporation.

Best Visayan Blog
This award goes to the blogger whose blog showcases his talent in blogging in any of the Visayan Languages.

Visayas Bloggers Choice
The Visayas is now a growing community of Bloggers from Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and more. There are a good number of impressive blogs but some stands out above the others. This awards goes to the blogger whose blog is the talk of the town—the influential blog, the inspirational blog and the example. This award will recognize the blogger who is well respected in the Blogging communities in Visayas.

Best Visayas Locale Blog
As we have different travel blogs showcasing the different beautiful places a travel blogger goes to, this next award focuses on a Visayan blog which will promote one’s hometown or city here in Visayas. This award goes to the best blog which talks about a certain blogger’s hometown or city.

Best Visayas Nature Blogger
When one comes to Visayas he/she may have the different choices of experiencing the Life of nature. We cannot deny the white sand beaches, the rare virgin forests filled with exotic wild life and the beautiful waterfalls that are located in this region. We recognize the blogger who best presents these best things in life found in Nature.

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Because We Are Filipinos & We Are One Nation

Calamity is the perfect glass wherein we truly see and know ourselves.

Last Saturday, the 26th of September, Philippines experienced Typhoon Ondoy's onslaught that brought the whole country in shock, fear and tears.

Ondoy brought along a month's worth of rainfall to the country's capital - Metro Manila and nearby areas - in just a few hours, causing intense flooding which has resulted in the loss of many lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people including their wealth or anything that is of any value to them.

As of this writing, several relief organizations are continuously accepting donations so that more help can be provided where it is needed. As Filipinos, wherever we may be, let us not forget the we are one bond and just one nation. Let us all extend help and pray for the immediate recovery of those who are victims of such unwanted occurrence.

The author of this site is encouraging everyone of us to extend help for the victims. Any help of any value would do. As the saying goes "we can help in our own little ways", so please don't just read this, please help...

Fellow Cebuanos, it's indeed a good news that we may now extend help through the following drop-off points in Cebu where your donations for Ondoy victims will be accepted and surely be sent to those who need it. You can also use your Paypal money by sending it thru DTC, Dynamic Teen Company. Here's the link: http://dynamicteencompany.org/partner-with-us/. You can just click on Donate. (DROP OFF POINTS ARE UPDATED FROM TIME TO TIME)

1. Cebu musicians & Outpost Restobar will help Ondoy victims! We’ll need you to bring your goods, clothing food etc. Joseph Castillo, hubby of musician Lia Luisa A. Castillo will send a 20ft Container to MLA 4 esp Cainta & Marikina. Details to follow. Drop in some love while you listen to some music. Get in touch with him through 09082368999 or 09322117111.

(Ondoy-Live-Aid at the Outpost, 7pm on Wednesday September 30. Bring your donations. Let’s fill up Joseph Castillo’s container!)

2. Donations drop off at Banilad Church of Christ (bldg in front of Bright Academy near Sto. Nino Village), Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

3. SUNBURST FRIED CHICKEN-TABUNOK BRANCH accepting donations from 10am to 9:30pm. Tabang Para sa mga Biktima ni Ondoy…Istorya.net asks you to donate to the victims of Storm Ondoy. Our brothers and sisters in Luzon need our help.

4. Aunt Genie’s Breadhouse: 1279 Talamban, Cebu City (In front of the Talamban Sports Complex). call at 416-0495 if you need directions to the drop-off area. (Accepting: Canned Goods, Old Clothes, Blankets, Diapers for babies, Noodles, Rice, Medicine, Soap, Toothpaste, Water Container, Iodized Salt)

5. Bizroute Solutions (Mon – Sat 11PM to 4PM) Unit 302 Keppel Bldg. Ayala. call at 416-0495 if you need directions to the drop-off area. (Accepting: Canned Goods, Old Clothes, Blankets, Diapers for babies, Noodles, Rice, Medicine, Soap, Toothpaste, Water Container, Iodized Salt)

6. Bizroute Solutions Lahug Office (Mon – Sat 11PM to 2PM) Unit 201 MIT Bldg. Gorordo Ave., Lahug (near JY Square). call at 416-0495 if you need directions to the drop-off area. (Accepting: Canned Goods, Old Clothes, Blankets, Diapers for babies, Noodles, Rice, Medicine, Soap, Toothpaste, Water Container, Iodized Salt)

7. Cue Cafe Crossroads accepting donations in cash or kind as part of JCI Zugbuana relief ops. Accepting clothes,blankets,towels,underwear,footwear,food and water for our suffering brothers and sisters in manila.

8. Citigym accepting donations in cash or kind as part of JCI Zugbuana relief ops. Accepting clothes,blankets,towels,underwear,footwear,food and water for our suffering brothers and sisters in manila.

9. Y101 station accepting donations in cash or kind as part of JCI Zugbuana relief ops. Accepting clothes,blankets,towels,underwear,footwear,food and water for our suffering brothers and sisters in manila.

10. CEBU WORLD VISION SPONSORS and VOLUNTEERS can help. Cash donations to BPI: 4251-0024-15 or BDO: 2700-4341-1

11. Holiday Gym & Spa Banilad Cebu set up a relief operations Drop-Off center beginning today 1:00 PM, Sunday, September 27. Please bring blankets, clothes and canned goods to the front desk/ reception area.

12. ABS-CBN CEBU is now accepting relief goods… adto lang mo sa ABS mga cebuanos…

13. Victory Cebu is a part of the Typhoon Ondoy Relief Operations, send your donations of goods to Victory Cebu center and they will consolidate sending of it to Metro Manila. They’re located at 3/F Dacay Building, 72 Escario St., Cebu City.

14. Very Mary (shop of designer Mary Melody Ty) is accepting goods. 2nd Floor, Myra’s Pensoionne, Escario Street. Beside Golden Peak Hotel.

15. Julie’s Bakeshops used as drop-off centers for PLAN ONDOY, mobilized by Rotary Clubs in Cebu. (For further verification. If you have more information on this, pls message me or leave a comment.)

16. Andorra Tiles Office used as drop-off centers for PLAN ONDOY, mobilized by Rotary Clubs in Cebu. (For further verification. If you have more information on this, pls message me or leave a comment.)

17. WADE SM located at the 2nd floor of the Northwing will serve as a drop off point until Wednesday 5pm. Goods will be forwarded to Outpost afterwards.

18. Orange Brutus P. Del (across USC Main) will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

19. Orange Brutus – Cebu Doctor’s Hospital will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

20. Orange Brutus – Centro Mandaue (near Mandaue City Hall) will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

21. Orange Brutus – Maguikay Mandaue (near Mandaue Flyover) will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

22. Orange Brutus Mactan (Marina Mall Mepz1) will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

23. Orange Brutus Southagte Plaza Mepz 2 will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

24. Orange Brutus Ayala will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

25. Orange Brutus SM will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

26. Orange Brutus Colon (near University of Visayas) will accept donations starting Monday from 2pm-8pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-8pm.

27. Orange Brutus Fuente branch will be accepting donations 24 hours from Monday to Thursday.

28. CEBUANOS – civilians, organizations, companies who want to HELP the Typhoon Ondoy victims – you can course your donations FOR FREE through 2GO at any of their branches! Your donations will be sent to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (……DSWD) in Manila. If you wish to coordinate or to ask for pick-ups, please contact MIA BONTOL at 0917 6312736. Please send what you can!

29. Sun.Star offices (P. Del Rosario St., Fuente, Osmena, Candelaria Arcade-Ibabao, Mandaue City)

30. DSWD office in MJ Cuenco Ave.

31. Aboitiz Group of Companies office beside Cebu Country Club

32. Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry office in North Reclamation Area, Cebu City

33. ABS-CBN/KBP/Cebu City Hall booth in Fuente Osmena, near Fuente Police Station

34. University of Cebu campuses - Main, Banilad, Lapulapu-Mandaue

35. FORMO in Banilad Town Center, Monday-Thursday, 6 p.m. onwards

36. VUDU in Crossroads, Tuesday - Thursday, 6 p.m. onwards.

37. TOYS @ WORK in Banilad Town Center

38. VERY MARY SHOP in Myra's Pensionne in Escario St.

WANNA KNOW MORE OF HOW YOU MAY HELP? Then please visit GOOGLE's Help for Typhoon Ondoy Victims in the Philippines page. You can also keep track of the latest news on Google News and YouTube.

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My Final Piece: Keeping the Faith

Unintended & unplanned, best describe how our paths crossed that day. Yet at the same time, these words also best describe how we separated...

Everything's unpredicted, seems like a magic cast by fate. Yet unlike the usual fairy tales we have read, our story's not meant for a "happily ever after" ending. Perhaps it was, but we opted to end it the other way. Fate cast a spell on us which never meant to be forever. Worst, it lasted in just a glimpse, in just a snap, the time when we're just starting to enjoy it.

But maybe there's a valid reason why things need to happen that way. It maybe unclear yet at this stage but for sure there is.

God is indeed wonderful after all. He has created a way for our paths to cross, for us to share His wonders the time when I was about to consider this life a curse. Above all, He has given me an angel to light thy path when I was totally down and lost, when I was just by myself in the middle of darkness. To my surprise, that angel was you. These only give me enough reason to be forever grateful.

In life, there comes a point wherein situation would asks each one of us to let go. Oftentimes, we take this negatively. Oftentimes, we forget the very fact why this needs to happen - for us to learn, understand and realize our strengths and weaknesses which would eventually help us grow wholistically as a being created by God to submit to His will.

For sure nobody would have wanted to let go of someone close to us especially if that someone has already marked a special part in our heart. Nobody would have wanted to let go if only left with options to choose. But because there's no other option left but letting go, then that alone prevailed. And for such a courageous decision, I believe I just deserve your respect and understanding.

It hurts me to let you go but I am letting you go now. But this doesn't mean that I am going away, I will just stay here so you won't be lost once you find your way back to me. I may be letting you go now but this never mean I am ending whatever we have had... for I will forever love you no matter what happens.

Fate's may be outside our boundaries but whatever it may lead us, remember to always keep the faith... for as long as we believe we are friends, we will forever be.

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My Last Pieces: [1] Straight from the Heart...

Just the same as what the song had said... someday... somewhere... I hope we'll find the right place and time for us.

After we have talked last night, I've already made up my mind. Made it clear that starting today, as I have started writing this note, I would try not to be in contact with you again. I'll try building walls if necessary. I know how hard the task would be, and for sure this will never be easy. But I need to do this, until such time that I would no longer be affected of anything you say and of whatever you do... until I could already say I have moved on, without having to prove it to anybody, not even to you and not even to myself.

This is not what I want, God knows. But this is the only best option I could think of. Believe me, this really hurts me, but I need to do this. Believe me, this is not what I want to happen... but if this is the only option I have, I am taking this.

Never have I been a gambler in my entire life, but this time I'll try to be one.

Never did I think of doing an action that may disappoint you... an action that may end up you hating me, and me hating myself, but because this is the only best option I have, I am willing to take the risk.

Last night, you just confirmed everything that has been bothering me. No matter how I tried to defend you over my system, fact would remain a fact... that you just did what I always fear that you will do. And it's not just a thing to me, it's something which I have been trying to live without in my entire life - fear of being DENIED & REJECTED, the total opposite of ACCEPTANCE.

I no longer know whether this decision is right or if this is not, but then again I'm taking it.

Let this note be one of my last pieces... And now, after this had reached you, I will write the very last piece.

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The Solitary Soul Whispers...

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.”

Time just went so fast. And before I knew it, it's almost been 3 years that I've tried to live my life independently, alone and away from anyone or anything that would remind me of home. I've always thought I'd be able to overcome the feeling of loneliness inside me. I've always let myself believe that I can make it without them - my family and friends. Moreover, I've always tried to keep myself busy and deny every thought of home. Yet I failed again. Whatever I do I can never escape reality.

Right now, the thought of home is haunting me once again. I am missing everything I've left there, especially my family. I felt like I was betrayed by my own system. The walls I've been trying to build to shield me from pain and longingness eventually collapsed. And no matter how I try to rebuild it, I just cannot. I feel weak, I am weak now. Bleeding and enduring all these pain brought by nobody else but myself, by my stupidity.

This solitude sucks. It really does. I hate it. It's killing me little by little. This feeling of being alone tries to take out sanity from me. If only I've carefully walk thy path, I shan't be lost right now. But it's already late for any regrets now, it's too late to go back and walk the right path. But maybe it's not yet late for thy soul to let go from this cliff where I've been clinging and surrender this life to who really owns it.

Yes, I am missing home so much. I miss Dad. I miss Mom. I miss Ate Dhes. I miss Aldrin. I miss Balong. I miss everything at home. Yet no matter how redundant I become, no matter how many times I'll emphasize my longingness for home, all I could do now is just write. But I'll try to let them notice this, and I'll let this note shout it out loud how I miss them, of how I miss home so much.

This solitary soul is in need of your help. Just in case you're hearing me, save me.

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A Message to 'HIS' Friend

Hi New Friend,

Thank you for accepting my invitation, to add me as a friend. I know I should have done it before, but I hesitated. Afraid to be rejected or denied. But this is nothing personal, or this doesn't mean anything other than the fact that I wanted to be friend with UNDISCLOSED's friends.

But please do not mention this to him. I'm afraid that he may not like this. And just to clarify, UNDISCLOSED and I are friends. Yes, I should have wished, hoped, or prayed that it would be more than that, but I opted not to, since I know the real score between us. And no matter what I do, for him, I will just be a friend... but it's better to have him as a friend than not to have him at all, for he's someone I dreamt of having before which I never have had...

I should have invited you personally to join us a while ago for a dinner. But then again, I hesitated. Fact is, we do not know each other; you do not know me and I am the same to you. And we have not even seen each other yet. So I let him invite you instead. Yet, it's quite sad to have learned that he never tried. And no matter how I tried to force him to try, he never did. But I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps, he has his reason, or should I say reasons, why he never tried. But I wouldn't ask him anymore, 'coz I am tired of asking him things... I am tired of desiring for answers... I am tired of making myself a fool in front of him... And I am tired of begging him for attention. Maybe, I am just getting tired of being tired.

Nonetheless, I will be forever grateful for I have known him, and for having him as a friend... and thankful that I am now a friend of one of his closest friends.

Thank you. Your acceptance to my friendship invitation is indeed appreciated. And I am looking forward to know you better.

Again, thank you.

P.S. I chose not to disclose any names on the above message for confidentiality purposes. Thanks.

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