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Bakla Goes to WordCamp Philippines 2008

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On September 6, 2008,  I gladly skipped my Spanish classes at Instituto Cervantes to attend the biggest event for bloggers and Wordpress users on this part of the worldwide web.  Organized by my kababayans, the Mindanao Bloggers, WordCamp Philippines 2008 was an historic moment in Philippine Blogging History! 

Armed with zero hours of sleep (since I came straight out of a graveyard shift), my laptop, Ernie, a Nokia N82, a Verzio digital Camera, and a mind ready to learn, I headed to the College of St. Benilde with friend and former colleague, Chase. We had our laptops checked at the entrance of the building and headed upstairs to the registration table (which was quite high-tech, with barcode scanners and all that shiznit). 

I saw a lot of familiar faces, did the usual hi’s and hello’s, then went back to my seat as the “show” started. 

In the morning,  I only got to attend two breakaway sessions (thanks to my incessant craving for cigarettes – had to go downstairs along Taft Ave.,  to smoke): Gail Villanueva’s Creating Wordpress Themes and CSS Power and Kring Elenzano’s Video Blogging. 

Gail Villanueva

At Gail’s talk, I learned a lot  about the CSS and other chenelyn forte factors that affect the theme.  Now I understand why this code was for this thing and the PHP and CSS files chenes now all made sense to me.  I used to just turn my back (in the office) and pester Will to help me out with the codes and all. 

Kring Elenzano

Kring Elenzano’s Video Blogging talk was extremely fun!  Thanks to Kring’s quirkiness and “ka-baklaan”, we all had so much fun while learning about the basics of creating videos.  I actually learned a lot more about the basics of taking videos, editing them, and becoming an Internet Celebrity, just like Coy Caballes. 

Spot.Ph’s Sonja’s Cupcakes!

Lunch was sponsored by Chowking and dessert was Sonja’s cupcakes (sponsored by Spot.ph). 

Matt Mullenweg and his Laptop

At the plenary session in the afternoon, the world seemed to have stood still when Wordpress creator and Mr. Wordpress himself, Matt Mullenweg went onstage.  All eyes were on Matt, the charming young dude, and all ears were focused on his talk.  The soft-spoken Matt pretty much captivated the audience as he started showing a live demo of Wordpress 2.7. “Oohs” and “aaahs” reverberated throughout the CSB theater as each and every feature of the Wordpress version (coming out in November) were shown on the screen. Matt also shared some interesting facts about Wordpress and Wordpress users in the Philippines.  There’s a lot to look forward to in the upcoming months! Well, what do you know, the future is Wordpress!

Of course, photo sessions with Matt were inevitable and it took more than two hours (I think) for the camwhoring to finish. After all, we rarely get the opportunity to have photos taken with Mr. Wordpress!

The Mindanao Bloggers

I’d like to congratulate the Mindanao Bloggers + Juned Sonido — the organizing committee, the volunteers, and the sponsors for a job well done! 

And to the WordCamp attendees, the future is ours, the future is Wordpress! (Charot!)

(All photos taken using NOKIA N82. MORE OF MY PHOTOS HERE: WordCamp Philippines 2008)

 WordCamp Posts from other bloggers (list from Jehzlau):

The New Media Coverage:
0. The Best and Most Memorable Blogger Event in the Phils by Jehzeel Laurente
1. I Got Wordcamped! by Tess Termulo
2. The First WordCamp in Southeast Asia by Adrian Jeric Peña
3. My WordCamp Experience by Master Betong
4. WordCamp Philippines by Hannah Rika Villasis
5. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Nina Fuentes
6. Matt at WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Binary Silver
7. Matt Mullenweg Highlights from WordCamp Phils by The Bachelor Girl
8. WordCamp Philippines Report by Fear the Spork
9. WordCamp Philippines Shirt Please by Evenly Piece
10. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Alrenz Cabasa
11. WordCamp Philippines 2008: A Success!
12. WordCamp Phils, 1st Southeast Asia WordCamp by Ana Katharina Pena
13. WordCamp Philippines 2008 Aftermath by Zero Blade
14. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Mae Paulino
15. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Green Bucks
16. Matt Mullenweg by Charmed Mom
17. WordCamp PH 2008 and Afterparty by Carlo Reid
18. WordCamp Philippines After-Party by The WordCamp Philippines Blog
19. WordCamp Philippines 08 by Project 365 Days
20. WordCamp 2008 Philippines by Karla Redor
21. Live Blogging from WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Spilled Lustre
22. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Aja Lapus
23. Experiencing WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Here’s to Life!
24. WordCamp Manila Blow-by-blow by Jonel Uy
25. Just got home from WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Jayvee Fernandez
26. Bloggers’ Event: WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Ada Lajara
27. WordCamp Philippines 2008 Winners and Bloopers by Funny Sexy
28. WordCamping 2008 by Billycoy
29. Ernie Meets Matt Mullenweg by AJ Matela
30. Matt Mullenweg, Volunteers, and WordCamp Phils by Misteryosa
31. The WordCamp in Philippines by Mark Aethen Agana
32. Matt Mullenweg by Animo Hosting
33. WordCamp Manila 2008, I was there! by Sha Ang
34. On WordCamp 2008 and Meeting Mr. Wordpress by Diventare.org
35. My WordCamp Philippines 2008 Experience by Regnard Raquedan
36. WordCamp Philippines Status Report by AWB Holdings
37. Live from De La Salle CSB, Marocharim is at WordCamp! by Marocharim
38. For the Love of Wordpress by Kristina Ana Matanguihan
39. WordCamp Pilipinas Success by Ikabon
40. WordCamp 2008: For Healthy and Wealthy Blogging by Hitokiri Hoshi
41. WordCamp 2008 Philippines Success by Arvin’s Thoughts
42. WordCamp, Meeting Matt Mullenweg by Miss Wicked
43. Meeting Matt at WordCamp 2008 by Urriza.net
44. Finally, WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Estan
45. Toothache Vs. WordCamp Philippines by George Putong
46. Notes and Photos, WordCamp Philippines a Success by Tonyo Cruz
47. Some WordCamp Philippines Afterthoughts by Undercover
48. Live Blogging in WordCamp by Pageman
49. My WordCamp Experience by Junele Malaga Caravana
50. WordCamp Philippines A Success! by Sophia Lucero
51. Bakla Goes to WordCamp Philippines by Bakla Ako

Media Coverage:
1. Wordpress developer previews new version in RP by Alexander Villafania
2. Wordpress enthusiasts meet for WordCamp by GMANews.tv

Some WordCamp Photos from WordCampers:
0. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Jehzeel Laurente
1. WordCamp 2008 Photos by Jayvee Fernandez
2. First WordCamp in Southeast Asia by Hannah Rika Villasis
3. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Tess Termulo
4. WordCamp Philippines by Ada Lajara
5. WordCamp 2008 by Regnard Raquedan
6. WordCamp Philippines 2008 by AJ Matela
7. WordCamp at Benilde by Normz

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