METRO MANILA | The 2011 Philippine Blog Awards

Sunday, December 04, 2011

I was at the veranda of Villa Igang at Guimaras, laptop on my table and a twilit panoramic view of the sea out the deck when I received an e-mail from the Philippine Blog Awards informing me that my blog, Lakad Pilipinas, was a finalist for its Luzon Culture and Arts Category.

The sun had just set and I just came back dripping wet from another session of shooting by the sea but the thought of drying myself was set for later; I was soon scrambling across the PBA site and checking out the other nominations, it turned out I got six! Six! Yes six! I cannot believe my eyes, six! Last year, I didn’t even get one! Wow!

These are what I got:

     Culture And Arts Category For Luzon
     Travel Category For Luzon
     Photo Blog Category For Luzon
     Lifestyle Category For Luzon
     Best Photo Post
     Travel Category For National Level


I was especially psyched to be a finalist for the Travel Category at the National Level, but I was totally not expecting to win it since it was filled with excellent travel blogs from my own blogging heroes.
The night of reckoning was held at the Carlos P. Romulo Hall at the RCBC Tower in Ayala just in time for my flight back to Manila.

I guess every blogger worth his salt was there and everyone seems to know everyone else. I don’t know anyone else besides L who came with me. Although I saw Nina and Ferdz Decena, two of the most prolific travel bloggers in our country, I was too shy to approach and talk to them.

After what seemed a long time of nervous waiting, Gang Badoy of RockEd Philippines finally entered the stage and started the show. Her usual witty and snappy lines got the crowd rolling. 

The first category was for Culture and Arts. I was crossing my fingers, hoping my blog wouldn’t be the first one to be flashed on the screen as it just seemed embarrassing that way. And yes, my blog was the very first name that was flashed on the screen; cringe-worthy moment haha.

Good thing I didn’t win this category as I felt there were more worthy blogs for this than mine.
Lakad Pilipinas was mentioned six times throughout the event, the guys from Pinoy Travel Bloggers Bagets cheering every time (thanks guys!), and I got to get onstage twice; the first one for the Best Travel Blog and the second one for the Best Photoblog Category which were both for Luzon. I bumbled my way through the speeches and claimed my Bulol trophies.

The trophies, which were wooden hand carved rice granary gods from the Luzon highlands were very fitting for this region’s winners; only thing was there’s not even a plaque or carving with the category or even the Philippine Blog Awards name on it. I guess I’ll have to engrave them myself haha (will post it here once it’s done).
I didn’t win the National Level for the Travel category, but that’s okay with me. To be a finalist at that level felt almost like winning already. Among the 16 fantastic finalists; We are Sole Sisters took the award to the cheers of everyone including me.

Bagging two Luzon level awards was a pretty good achievement for my two-year old blog; I’m totally happy with the outcome of the event. I was also glad to meet the people behind the other travel blogs I’ve been visiting and got together with for a late dinner afterwards with the Pinoy Travel Bloggers Bagets which were a riot to be with.
But the real icing on the cake was meeting Francis Brew of the Dawn with his girlfriend Nina who won for the Best Photoblog for the National Level. It’s not everyday that a rockstar approaches you out of nowhere, grabs your hands and gives you a huge congratulations. Man, did that complete my day.

Six nominations, two awards, one rockstar and a bunch of new friends; the 2011 Philippine Blog Awards rocked!
Thanks so much PBA!

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53 comments

  1. ohmaygad!!! exposure on your blog. i can't believe this!!! woohoo.. congrats again Christian!!!

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  2. congratulationssss! You definitely rock! :D

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  3. congratulations christian! woot! you deserve it! =)

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  4. congrats and nice meeting you!!! woot!!!

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  5. Congrats again Christian, nice to put a face behind this awesome blog of yours.

    Gf pala ni Francis Brew yung nanalo sa Photoblog, didnt get to see him though. (also a The Dawn fan here hehe)

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  6. congrats! Super deserve the nominations! :)

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  7. congrtulations Christian! astig ang nakauwi ng dalawang awards!

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  8. Galing naman ni Kuya Macoy! Bilib na talaga ako... hehehe!

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  9. wow, exposure yan nga bagets. sisikat na talaga! heehhe.

    congrats Christian!

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  10. when you immediately see someone deserving to be recognized for their craft, you don't hesitate to think twice but instead let the world know that a photo genius from Malabon exists to rock your blogging world! Congrats Christian! a well-deserved win! ^_^

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  11. Congrats Sir! You really deserve theawards and I'm sure they'll keep coming. =)

    And it was such a pleasure to meet one of my favorite travel blogger and photographers in person. =)

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  12. wohooo! congrats again, and syempre na-meet ka namin!hahaha!

    nainggit sila Robx at Ivan nung nakitang nagpapicture kami sayo..hahaha!

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  13. naks ang comment ni Doi, may pinaghuhugutan,,hahah! tagos sa puso, lampas sa laman!hahaha

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  14. you deserve it christian! keep it up!

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  15. congratuleyshens! libreee! crispy dinuguan! lol

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  16. @darwin, gaga! isa lang ibig sabihin non, di kita ninominate. sensya na pre. bwahahaha.

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  17. another win? youre really sweeping this year's contests! hehehe... congrats again bro! :)

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  18. two (2) years old blog, are you kidding me?

    I will not address you sir this time, "ikaw na Christian"

    sana'y lagi kang gabayan ng Panginoon so you can continue feeding us with your living pictures, kung mayaman lang ako eh sponsor kita sa buong bansa para mag-"Lakad Pilipinas"

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  19. congratulations. I was not surprised...You deserve it

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  20. congrats! post mo din pic ko wid francis brew! joke lang! hahaha fangirl moment :P

    ikaw na talaga to the mex!

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  21. Astig talaga ang Christian.............kahit saan may nag aabang na award......

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  22. Congratulations... your laurels are the fruits of your blogging passion and determination.

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  23. COngratulations! AS always... Napakagaling! :)

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  24. Ang daya! Bawal ang shy! Hahaha

    Congrats on your win! You deserved it :D

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  25. Congratulations again sir Christian! :)

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  26. Congratulations Christian! Sayang wala ako kagabi but it seems like the bagets made your night extra special! :D

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  27. naputol ang tradition. the best travel blog award winner should not be present. hahaha... congrats man!

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  28. congratulations sir christian! a well deserved win! :) more awards to come! :)

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  29. You already!
    I was having that ingit moment kasi your in Iloilo base in your last post..
    Tapos susunod PBA nah!
    Wala ako masabi, galing mo talaga..
    Sykes Photo Club and Pinoy Travel Bloggers should be very proud to have you!
    Congratulations Christian!

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  30. Congrats Christian! You deserve the two awards! And I'm happy to meet the person behind Lakad Pilipinas at may exposure pa kami dito. Wooo! :)

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  31. Congrats Sir! More to come! =)

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  32. Congrats Christian and it was nice meeting you :)

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  33. Congratulations on the wins and congratulations again on all of the nominations! :)
    Hope to met you one day, someday, somehow! :)

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  34. congrats Christian! well deserved!sayang wala ako na meet din sana kita. na excite mga bagets na ma meet ka eh! :)

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  35. yan eh! congratulations dude, you really deserved it!

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  36. Pre. Malaking Congratulations nga ito....:-). Iba na talaga ang idol pre. Blessed talaga pare basta mga Christian ang pangalan. hehehe. CONGRATS again pre. Maraming congratulations, idol.:-).

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  37. Ikaw na talaga ang idol ko . . . . Congrats IDOL Mccoy =)

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  38. Congrats Christian!

    Fickle Cattle
    http://ficklecattle.blogspot.com/

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  39. You are a rockstar yourself Christan! You already!

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  40. Congrats Christian, next year national level na yan :)

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  41. Congrats! Your blog deserves the nomination and awards :)

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  42. Congrats! Para sa'kin ikaw panalo sa national level! Hehe!

    World of Vhincci

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  43. Thank you po sa inyong lahat! I've never had this many comments in a post before! I promise I will get back to all of you this weekend :)

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