I started blogging more than ten years ago to share bits and pieces of information about HIV/AIDS.
My husband encouraged me to set up a blog to post the news and feature articles I wrote for a daily publication. Those articles were mostly about People Living with HIV/AIDS or PLWHAs. During those times, fewer materials about PLWHAs are available on the Internet due to privacy issues.
Because I was a newbie in the blogging platform, I searched for other blogs/bloggers who may share the same interests. While lurking, I stumble on mommy blogs. One blog features photos of kids following a weekly theme. I thought it was cute and decided to join the “meme†by sharing my kids’ pictures on the blog. I had fun because I look forward to interacting with fellow mommies every week.
Earn online
While interacting with other bloggers, I’ve learned that I can earn online. So I started signing up for various companies that pay bloggers for writing articles.
In 2010, I bought my first domain to earn more online. New friends were supportive to help me set up a blog with a nice layout. I’m still thankful to them for all the help they’ve extended to me. The other mommy friends helped me with the technical stuff and offered a hosting service for my first blog.
They’re the same friends who shared referrals to paying sites and direct advertisers. I was able to generate funds from the passive income. It was a big help for a single-income family like mine.
Brand ambassador
In 2012, I became part of a campaign that assists people to lose weight. Thanks to mommy friends who recommended me to join the weight loss challenge. Overall, it was a nerve-wracking but productive experience. I believe it was the peak of my blogging journey to date. I’ve met a lot of interesting people behind the blogs.
I guess I share the same sentiments with influencer Amy West when she recalls her experiences with brand partnerships. Amy travels a lot. She promotes brands and writes blogs while traveling to various places. Â
I didn’t win the weight loss challenge, but I learned to take care of my health. I continue to exercise and mind my food intake.
Blog coverage
The blog exposure somewhat allowed me to cover events. I was lucky to attend a few, a Family Day in an exclusive school for girls; green social enterprises in a municipality in Metro Manila; and an art exhibit by human rights activists. The coverages brought back the memories I had as a reporter.
There were opportunities to review certain products. The good thing about blogging is that you can express your honest opinion about the product. For me, blogging plays a significant role in the promotion of new merchandise in the market. Potential consumers can easily access product reviews online and decide if they will buy the product or not.
Blogging onward
I have been in this business for more than a decade now. I can’t say I’ve made a mark in the blogging world because I’m an ordinary blogger with no accolades or large following. I’m happy enough to share the side of an introverted mommy blogger.
What keeps me motivated to continue blogging these days is a personal goal. You see, my son is in the last two years of college, and I rely on the income I get from blogging and online gigs.
Advocacy
I have mentioned sharing about PLWHAs stories in my other blogs. I believe the stories of real people living with HIV/AIDS will help raise awareness about the public health threat among vulnerable populations.Â
Despite repeated warnings by health experts, many continuously violate the health and safety protocols of Covid19. We have seen people posting on social media big gatherings of family members with their relatives and friends outside their home on Christmas Eve.
Face-to-face parties outside the home are still prohibited this holiday season. Why don’t we listen to the warnings of experts? This way, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from getting Covid.
Photo by Gabriel Tovar on Unsplash
On New Year’s Eve, please do not invite your relatives and friends to any physical parties. There is too much at stake if you hold an activity outdoors. Why not invite them to a zoom party. People are doing this worldwide. I think a virtual party is more fun and does not require you to dress up and prepare a lot of food on the table. Let’s be patient, please. We have been in this situation for several months now; let’s wait for a few more until the vaccine reaches the country.
Even with the dramatic turn of events, let us claim a better 2021 for everyone. Happy holidays and please stay safe.
Let’ have a virtual toast for a healthier life in 2021!
Leading real estate platform Lamudi gathers
the top real estate developers in the Philippines for The Outlook 2019:
Philippine Buyers’ Choice Property Awards, a gala event co-presented by
Philippine Daily Inquirer Property and Holcim Philippines to be held at the
Makati Shangri-la on November 14, 2019. The event recognizes the real estate
innovations developers designed in response to the changing needs of property
seekers all over the country, with nominees shortlisted by a panel of judges
and winners chosen through a survey with 10,000 active Lamudi property seekers.
Lamudi’s preparations started in January, when
nominations were opened to all developers in the Philippines until May 31st,
provided their development has not won at The Outlook Awards before. There was
no nomination fee to submit the name of a project, and no limits were imposed
on the number of nominees in all award categories.
The Judges
The real
estate platform asked judges to review all the nominations between June and
July, using a predefined category-specific score sheet for each category as a
guide in shortlisting the nominees. The panel of judges will determine the
winners of the Special Awards. The winners for the House, Condominium,
Mixed-use, and Grand Awards categories will be determined via a
10,000-respondent survey involving active property seekers on Lamudi.
Here are the panel of judges for The Outlook: Philippine Buyers’ Choice Property Awards:
Atty. Robert Nomar V.
Leyretana, Deputy Administrator of the
Land Registration Authority
Richard Raymundo, Managing
Director of Colliers International Philippines
Kenneth Stern, Country Manager of
RE/MAX Philippines
Platzer Georg, Market Development
Manager of Ikano Philippines Inc. and Store Manager of IKEA Pasay City
Arch. Amado P. de Jesus, Vice
Chairman of Philippine Green Building Initiative and Principal Architect of A. P. de Jesus &
Associates
Theresa Samaniego, Editor of
Philippine Daily Inquirer Property
Amelita Remo, Writing Editor of
Philippine Daily Inquirer Property
Dr. Eduardo Ong, Former Chairman
of the Professional Regulatory Board for Real Estate Services
Leira Buan, Assistant Secretary of
the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
James Buskowitz, CEO of Buskowitz
Group
Rick Santos, Chairman and CEO of
Santos Knight Frank
Jason Buensalido, Principal
Architect, Chief Design Ambassador and Founder of Buensalido+Architects
The Nominees
The Outlook: Philippine Buyers’ Choice
Property Awards, which is supported by the Subdivision and Housing Developers
Association (SHDA), received an overall increase of 30% in the number of
nominations in its third year, with a 90% increase in the number of nominees
from Visayas and Mindanao compared to 2018.
Awards for Developments in Luzon
The shortlisted nominees for the Best Affordable Condo in Luzon are:
Amaia Land Corporation – Amaia
Skies Shaw
Cathay Land, Inc. – Stanford
Suites 2
DataLand, Inc. – The Silk
Residences
Empire East Holdings, Inc. –
Cambridge Village
PHINMA Property Holdings
Corporation – Arezzo Place Pasig
SM Development Corporation – Cheer
Residences
Sta. Lucia Land, Inc. – Monte
Carlo
The shortlisted nominees for the Best Premium Condo in Luzon are:
Avida Land Corporation – Avida
Towers Makati Southpoint
Century Properties Group, Inc. –
Iguazu Tower at Acqua Private Residences
Costa del Hamilo, Inc. – Freia at
Pico de Loro Cove
Empire East Land Holdings, Inc. –
San Lorenzo Place
Filinvest Land, Inc. – Fora
Condotel
SM Development Corporation – Hope
Residences
Torre Lorenzo Development
Corporation – Torre Lorenzo Central
Robinsons Land Corporation –
Chimes Greenhills
Alveo Land Corporation – The
Sandstone at Portico
Anchor Land Holdings, Inc. –
Princeview Parksuites
The shortlisted nominees for the Best Luxe Condo in Luzon are:
Ayala Land Premier – Park Central
Towers
Megaworld Corporation – The Albany
North Bonifacio Landmark Realty
and Development Inc. – Grand Landmark Residences South Tower (Grand Hyatt
Manila Residences South Tower)
Century Properties Group, Inc. –
Century Spire
Anchor Land Holdings, Inc. –
Anchor Grandsuites
The shortlisted nominees for the Best Affordable House in Luzon are:
Amaia Land Corporation – Amaia
Scapes Bulacan
Avida Land Corporation – Avida
Southfield Settings NUVALI
CitiHomes Builder and Development,
Inc. – Liora Homes
Demeterland Development
Corporation – Valley Verde Villas
Filinvest Land, Inc. – Amarilyo
Crest
PHirst Park Homes – PHirst Park
Homes Tanza
Taft Property Venture Development
Corporation – Cera at Citation Residences
The shortlisted nominees for the Best Premium House in Luzon are:
AboitizLand, Inc. – Seafront
Residences
Brittany Corporation – Promenade
Crown Asia – Valenza
Filinvest Land Inc. – The Peak
The shortlisted nominees for Best Mixed-Use Development in Luzon are:
Ayala Land Corporation – Evo City
Costa del Hamilo, Inc. – Hamilo
Coast
Italpinas Development Corporation
– Miramonti Green Residences
NAI RCL Philippines – Waves
Beach Club and Residences
Megaworld Corporation – Arcovia
City
Awards for Developments in
Visayas and Mindanao
The shortlisted nominees for Best Affordable Condo in Visayas and Mindanao are:
Amaia Land Corporation – Amaia
Steps Capitol Central
Cebu Landmasters, Inc. – Casa Mira
Towers Labangon
Damosa Land, Inc. – Seawind
Filinvest Land Inc. – One Oasis
Cagayan de Oro
Grand Land Inc. – Amani Citygate
Davao
PHINMA Property Holdings
Corporation – Arezzo Place Davao
Taft Property Venture Development
Corporation – Soltana Nature Residences
The shortlisted nominees for Best Premium Condo in Visayas and Mindanao are:
Anchor Land Holdings, Inc. – 202
Peaklane
Ayala Land Premier – The
Residences at Azuela Cove
Cebu Landmasters, Inc. – 38 Park
Avenue
Federal Land, Inc. – Marco Polo
Residences
Filinvest Land, Inc. – Sanremo
Oasis at City di Mare
Megaworld Corporation – The
Palladium
Torre Lorenzo Development
Corporation – Dusit Thani Residence Davao
The shortlisted nominees for Best House in Visayas and Mindanao are:
