The recently concluded Visayas Blogging Summit 2011, brought to you by the Cebu Bloggers Society Inc., was spelled SUCCESS! With a whapping number of participants, both pre-registered and walk-ins, plus the incredible and world-class speakers, seasoned with lots of prizes, Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 was the kick-off event indicating that blogging has gone mainstream.
For those who like to wrap-up the happenings during VBS 2011 and to those who failed to attend the big event, here's a dose of what you witnessed, or missed, from morning 'til the end of the event:
Registrants made a very long line in the Entrance 5 and Trade Hall 1 of SM City Cebu as early as 5:45 AM. Participants who registered online, and walk-in ones, wore the face of excitement for the VBS 2011. Then, the event started with a "Blogger Prayer" by Doc Buboy Tapia. Rationale was given by the Chairman of the Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 Organizing Team, Ruben Licera Jr.
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| Evanjohnn on "How to Find your Niche?" Photo by Bryan Yuson. |
Atty. Ethelbert Ouano of Laag Cebu and Eden Villarba of Chic In The Tropics hosted the event. They then introduced the first batch of speakers, namely Vernon Go of Geoh Media, Evanjohnn Mendoza of Focal Glass, Tim Bennett of Argon Management Training, and Max Limpag of Sun Star. After the 4 speakers shared their knowledge, they were asked by the participants for a panel question and answer.
While listening to the speakers, participants are tweeting the inputs they gathered, which made the hashtag #vbs2011 number 4 of the trending topics in the Philippines.
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| Miss Earth Beauties spotted at VBS 2011! Photo by Bryan Yuson. |
Sponsors were acknowledged and raffles were drawn after the first set of speakers. Minutes after, the much awaited guest arrived. 4 Miss Earth candidates, Miss England, Miss Estonia, Miss Guatemala, and Miss Guam, paid a visit to VBS 2011. Participants were lucky to have their pictures taken with the Miss Earth Beauties. Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama arrived minutes after the Miss Earth candidates. Mayor Rama offered the bloggers a beautiful Visayan song and had a little chat with the Miss Earth beauties.
Lunch was given to the participants care of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). When the clock hitted 1 o'clock in the afternoon, the keynote Speaker, Chris Ducker started his topic "From Blog to Business - Getting Serious Online." All ears were given to Chris Ducker as he shared his thoughts about integrating blogs to business. It was indeed the keynote speak of the event!
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| Keynote Speaker, Chris Ducker. Photo by Bryan Yuson. |
Next to Chris Ducker were the speakers who will discuss on Social Media Responsibility, Joanne Apat, Coy Caballes, and Brad Geiser. Joanne shared a thing or two about the basic of using social media to business. While Coy and Brad shared tips on successful social media campaign and online content warfare, respectively.
Ducker, Apat, Caballes, and Geiser, like the other speakers, answered the questions of the participants in a panel question and answer.
Last line of speakers during the Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 were Janette Toral of Digital Filipino, Rep. Mong Palatino of the Kabataan Partylist, Haidee Palapar of RAFI, and Gina Lopez of ABS-CBN Foundation. Miss Janette Toral, the E-Commerce Diva, expressed here thoughts about the pespective of social media responsibility while Rep. Mong Palatino shared the different roles of social media for change. Haidee Palapar presented some community projects that needs the assistance of social media and some activities offered by RAFI.
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| Gina Lopez received love after her talk. Photo by Bryan Yuson. |
Gina Lopez uplifted the crowd that bloggers can do great in fighting for environment as she presented a move to synergize online to offline to help save Palawan from mining. She urged the participants to shout "NO" to mining in Palawan and in Visayas and promised to show the captured video in national TV.
After all the speakers gave their talk, Cebu Bloggers Society President Kevin Ray Chua heartfully thanked all who attended and participated the 2nd VBS 2011. Raffles were drawn and the lucky winners were awarded by the CBSI President and the VBS 2011 Chairman. All went home with smiles in their faces, and freebies in the pockets.
In behalf of the entire Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 Team and the Cebu Bloggers Society Inc. family, thank you for being part of a very successful blogging and social media event of the entire Visayas. You have just been part of a very remarkable history in the blogosphere. See you in the next Visayas Blogging Summit!
