A first-timer at Nuffnang's Blogopolis #IntotheWILD 2013!

For the past few days, I've been excited that I got an invite to one of the hottest, coolest and informative blogger's convention in Manila, the Nuffnang Blogopolis. And because it was my first time to attend, I have no expectations or point of comparisons. I did not even google or researched the event, I was just very excited to attend and happy to take my sister with me. 

Registration started at 12:30 pm but we arrived at 1pm. I can already see a lot of bloggers all over the place, signing up at booths and checking out their loot bags and sponsors' stuff.

More blogging tips and other useful information after the jump!

Then, there's the excited me.

We were given loot bags!

We were given a sort of treasure map to fill out but you have to be online. (Meaning you have to do a live tweet, post, instagram as per the mechanics).

While everyone was happily roaming around, "treasure-hunting", we were at the cocktails section, people watching.

Goodbye Diet.

Then the very much awaited event finally came. The start of the seminar / convention. We were lucky enough to get really good seats, as in 4th room mid section!

Franco Mabanta hosted the first part of the event. He was very nervous that he practically read the script verbatim without eye contact to the audience (given his 13 years of hosting experience).


He said, he is nervous about having bloggers as audience (read: fierce introverts who will say a lot about you on the internet, no holds barred.) To be fair, he made up for it during the third gap. I was just surprised.

Bloggers everywhere!

Opening remarks by Abe Olandres, Nuffnang Philippines' country manager and yugatech.com blog owner!

Next up is Rappler's Maria Ressa. I've met her last year at UPLB's Rappler event and she gave a really good presentation about online bayanihan or crowdsourcing.

My sister, Aprille, who I dragged into this event even told me that from Maria Ressa's talk alone, the effort to attend this conference all the way from Laguna is worth it!

Next speaker is Lori Baltazar who talked about Podcasting. 

I've never really heard of her blog before but I found her to be really charming, a really good speaker, she makes a lot of sense and she speaks from the heart.

That's me taking notes, by the way...

Michael Josh Villanueva (also from Rappler) couldn't join us because he is in the US as of the moment, but here is a video recording of him telling us how Digital Video is the future.

TJ Manotoc came next and talk about Twitter News. I actually did learn a lot from him.

Then there's the Q&A portion for everyone.

I love how TJ Manotoc shared his claim to fame that a famous NBA player replied to his tweets and he even got a photo of him when he went to the states. He also encouraged everyone to humanize ourselves when we tweet and to be aware of what's happening around us/

I like how Lori Baltazar is so real and told us that she started podcasting because she was bored from the regular photos and words style of blogging. I think my biggest takeaway from her is "Keep on doing what you need to so to keep your passion going."

Jim Paredes of haringliwanag.pansitan.net is up next.  Jim spoke about the new "digital nation" and how we can easily tap our "resources" with a single tweet. He said that Twitter is a big community but it also feels so intimate. He also shared the dilemma of modern day living of how much of your time is spent on virtual living.

I feel that I am back in my graduate school class, because he was also quoting Marshall McLuhan, which happened to be the first proponent of my MS Thesis. (Okay, enough of the graduate school stuff now).

My favorite takeaway from Jim Paredes would be:

"If you haven't been praised and condemned (in your blog/tweet etc) you haven't experienced it fully..."

Jeff Lo spoke about how he started a fitness blog that garnered followers and a runners' community altogether.

Aisa Ipac and Ana Gonzales are the organizers of Blogger's United Events. What started out as a small garage sale turned out to be a huge annual bazaar event.

More Q&As...

The second part of the event was hosted by Justin ( I forgot his last name) , who I think, is better than Franco Mabanta. Surprisingly. I must write this, because he connects and charms the audience even if he has to read the long script. I think those seated at the back would agree with me as well.

The husband and wife tandem of googlygooeys.com spoke about their creativity when blogging. Their works reminded me of my friend, Eisen.

Christine Dychiao of Manilafashionobserver.com came to speak.

Her shoes caught my attention, and Aprille whispered: " I think that's Valentino".

I think it is.

I love the panel part where readers get to ask questions by the use of microphone or by live tweeting.

Abe Olandres of Yugatech spoke about the importance of security online and how importance of a good serves and maintenance of an earning blog.

The husband and wife tandem of Chuck and Yen Dreyfus talked about projecting a positive "selfie" online.

 

 

They also invite other influential bloggers to speak during the Q&A part.

This Singapore-based guy, I'm sure you've seen his works.

This is an example that circulated around Facebook. The original was the Conjurain, and the following others that were flashed on the screen:

Although it got a little late, I cherished almost everything that I learned in the convention. I feel like I am in graduate school with bloggers as classmates and all of us having the same interest.

Next post is about the much awaited Nuffnang's Nuffie Awards 2013! Stay tuned!