The bloggers of Zamboanga
I was very happy to have visited — at long last! — Asia’s Latin City (from 17 to 20 October), and to have touched base with the bloggers of Zamboanga. I’d already met some of them online (and two of them ‘offline’ during the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit last year), but seeing them all together in their own milieu was most gratifying.
The Zambo bloggers started becoming active and participatory in the Mindanao Bloggers Community around last year. They even sent tentative feelers to the MB core group as to the possibility of their hosting MBS3. This is a clear indication that they could very well be prepared for the opportunity to host the 4th Summit next year…
Present during the meet-up at the Country Food & Tea House (excellent choices of loose-leaf tea, by the way) were Yolynne, Ryann, Jerome, Pics, Jet, James (aka “John Lazy”), Cedric, and others. Some of those who came had never before met their fellow Zamboangueño bloggers. And this is why I found the meet-up gratifiying: because there is an apparent willingness to strengthen the local bloggers’ group in Zamboanga.
I was also able to meet a couple of Tausug bloggers, and they told us that they have a very active group of about 50, and they blog about Moro and Muslim topics, among others. Getting to know them, especially Nur Danial, was an eye opener for me, and has made my resolve to broaden the scope of the Mindanao Bloggers Community even stronger.
We’ll hear more about what’s been going on with the bloggers of Zamboanga Peninsula from Ryann Elumba, who will deliver a report at MBS3. Ryann is the blogger behind Hola Zamboanga!, and the one who designed the creatives for MBS2.
Last 19 October, I also went to Isabela City, Basilan. Another first for me! I’d like to express my gratitude to Yolynne for introducing me to RJ Ian, who took the entire day off on a Monday to show me his beautiful city. Thanks to RJ, I was able to visit some schools in Isabela and encourage high school and college students to take up blogging. We certainly need more man-on-the-street accounts of what’s really happening on the much-maligned island of Basilan.
I’ll certainly make a trip to the Zamboanga Peninsula again soon and, God willing, for a much longer stay. I’d love to be able to visit Pagadian and Ipil, as well as other places in Basilan Province. I’ve visited Dapitan and Dipolog back in 1996, but going back to those places to get acquainted with the bloggers there is on my priority list.
Muchas gracias, amigos de Zamboanga!
i've never been to mindanao. hopefully i can visit the place soon. ^^,
Ha! wala ta nag-abot Blogs. Gikan pud ko Zambo for an activity. 17 ko nag fly-out. Sa Big V's ba nang 1st pic? Hope you enjoyed Zamboanga especially yung bagong-bagong Paseo del Mar!
Hello Jaypee! Yes, you should visit Mindanao! Thanks for visiting MindanaoBloggers.com at least. Hehehe!
Hey Jayclops! No, that was at Country Food & Tea House. See you soon!
Muchisimas gracias tambien amigo! Mirahan quita otraves!
Thanks Blogie hope to see you again..
Thank you for visiting Countryfood and Teahouse
Hi candidgirl! Are you the owner of the Tea House? I really loved the place, and the tea set!
I would love to visit Mindanao…Just wondering what specific province. Hope you could recommend some. I'm more into nature kase. Thanks! ^_^
Hi toni! Hmmm… There's Mt. Apo (via Davao or Kidapawan City), Mt. Matutum (via General Santos). There's the beaches of Mati in Davao Oriental, Sta. Cruz islands in Zamboanga. Or Aliwagwag Falls of Cateel, also in Davao Oriental. There are so many places! Don't know where to start…
Hope to be there next year for the MBS. Its good that blogie announced where to held the MBS4 so we can prepare and find some budget.
A few weeks ago, my friend Mr. Jerome Locson initiated a gathering of bloggers. I immediately replied and volunteered to help out. I like meeting new people and organizing gatherings and events even if these are sometimes too stressful to do. I don’t know, but I feel alive and productive if I see an avenue for some of my ideas come to life.
Anyway, we have already met twice and have already added each other on Plurk, which is a way for us also to bond online. We get to tease each other and comfort one another through the said latest micro blogging tool.
We also have made progress by making our meetups constant, we are scheduled for a meetup every tuesday night in any place as long as there is WIFI access. So far the only place where we’ve met is at Mr. Bean Cafe in Catribo Complex, do you have any suggestions of another place where it would be cool to hangout?
We also planned to tap Bloggers living or are former residents of Zamboanga Peninsula Region. Our region is always in the front page of Newspapers because of the different chaos that have transpired but rarely do we read good news that have happened and have given us pride. We intend to change this course, with the help of blogging. I also believe that if we truly would want change to happen, we should not only be contented on doing the complaining but look for ways for this to come into reality. We also aim to promote unity, camaraderie and prosperity amidst our differences in religion or beliefs, school, age, gender and so much more.
We are still in the lookout for more active Zambo Pen Bloggers and if you know of one, kindly refer us to him or her.
If you would want to join us and be acquainted online or offline. Just comment on this page and leave your contact info and we would get in touch with you as soon as we can.
By the way, if you are on facebook, you can hook up with us by joining our Facebook Group
Muchisimas Gracias! Daghang Salamat and…. Assalamu alaikum.
Nice meeting you Blogie. Mukha pala akong ewan doon sa picture lol. Ano palang gamit mong theme? Ingat!
Hey there! The theme I'm using on this blog is called The Station, from WooThemes.com.
Ang galing. I hope I could organize bicol bloggers as well. How much is this Woo Theme btw?
Hi Ronald! Just gather a small group of dedicated bloggers to help you get organized.
I don't know anymore how much this Woo theme costs, but why don't you just go to their website to check it out?
wow i never knew that there is a blogger community here in zamboanga… im only familiar with cedric. =)