Owner: Blogie Blog URL:http://www.robilloblog.com Join Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 05:10:44 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: My views, thoughts, opinions, experiences as a Filipino blogger. Site statistics:Click here
Cool find: Postreach 2007-07-16 15:22:58 Besides writing about various topics for my blogs, I also dabble in a bit of coding, some designing (not the actual work, just the ‘conceptualization’), and plugin-testing. I’ve actually crashed one blog because of my wanton installations of seemingly harmless 3rd-party plugins for WordPress. Lessons learned in the other side of blogging. But… plugins are like a minor addiction. They just make so many cool things happen, don’t they??
So I’ve learned to first watch out for potential disasters when it comes to trying out plugins. And I’ve learned to check first how popular my desired plugins are before I even try using them. One such blog I happen to always pick up nice finds is Jayvee’s abuggedlife.com. And I’ve found another one I immediately liked over there: Postreach.com’s ClickComments. (more…)
favorite blogs, WordPress, WP plugins
Blog resuscitation 2007-07-20 10:04:04 I’m very pleased with myself right now. For one, I’ve been able to force myself to revive a dying blog of mine, Mission: 6-Pack Abs (http://sixpack.robilloblog.com). For months I’d neglected it (my last post was in late May), and it could’ve gone the way of the dodo, had I not decided to effect a major revamp.
Like Oprah or the Fab Five giving away home makeovers, a redesign is a sure way of rekindling your own interest in maintaining a blog. After a looong time procrastinating, I made myself face the hundreds of WordPress themes available and choose a new one for Mission: 6-Pack Abs. Fortunately, one sprung out and caught my eye. If you take a look at it, it is rather red all over… but I like it. And that’s the important part. You should like your own blog, or you just might get tired of it. So, after several hours (non-continuous, though) of tweaking and manipulating the codes and scripts — voilà! A blog reborn. (more…)
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WordPress plugins I use 2007-07-19 13:25:59 I know it’s been talked about by other bloggers, but I’ve gotten asked about which WordPress plugins I use. So here goes…
Plugins serve to extend your WordPress blog — to give it more oomph, more pizzazz even. But most importantly, they help you make sense of your whole blogging experience. It could be to make blogging more fun, such as running polls or contests off your blog. Or to maintain a directory (as opposed to a simple blogroll). For me, my primary use of plugins is for extending the power of the already-powerful WordPress platform.
So here’s a list of the plugins that I use in almost all my WordPress blogs. They’re all compatible with version 2.2.1, by the way. (more…)
WordPress, WP plugins
Share your thoughts 2007-07-23 18:11:22 What on the Internet isn’t burgeoning or spreading like wild fire, especially if it’s something that lets Web warriors express themselves? Content management software, social networking systems, blog hosting — both paid and free-of-charge — and now newfangled services such as those for video blogging and podcasting have cropped up in exponential numbers.
However, I don’t think it’s merely a case of opportunists jumping in the bandwagon. There truly is a huge demand for various Internet-based services. Let’s take the case of blogging. Since no one platform can satisfy everybody’s peculiar needs, many blog platforms have burst into the scene and are flourishing, each catering to a segment of the global blogosphere. One more entrant: a Blogging Community by thoughts
.com. It seems to me that this is a fairly recent development.
I’m guessing this Blogging Community could take off and be the next big thing on the ‘Net. But this will Read more:Share
You got blogged! contest 2007-07-29 05:56:27 There’s a one-of-a-kind blogging contest that’s going to be launched this 1 August, and it’s called You got blogged
! DigitalFilipino.com / MindanaoBloggers.com Review-a-Blog Competition. Read more about it here »»
blog promotions, Mindanao bloggers summit
Inspiring others to blog 2007-08-01 16:07:51 Last night I took time off to help out a good friend with some of the more technical aspects of blogging. After maintaining his blog for some time now, Mandaya Moore decided it was time to take the next step — the one that’s beyond merely writing articles. Specifically, he was curious about MyBlogLog. So I apprised him of the wonders of social bookmarking services. For good measure, I also showed him the ropes around Technorati. Well, the basics anyway.
Sitting down with my friend and having been able to share my knowledge gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling yesterday. Not only because Mandaya and I are friends, but also because I realized I’d gotten so busy lately that I’d neglected my objective this year. And that’s to get more people to start blogging. Earlier, around summer, I was able to inspire two friends to take it up, but that was it. So I’m glad that my friend, who will remain anonymous behind his blogging pseudonym (for now), gave me the chan
A conversation with Matt: short but sweet 2007-08-03 17:57:29 In my position in life, I’ve gotten to rub elbows with a few industry bigwigs and even some celebrities, but I don’t really get gushy or tense around them. So last night was mildly surprising when I found myself rather schoolgirlishly nervous as I waited for my Skype chat with Matt Mullenweg. I’m embarrassed to say I got tongue-tied for a little while when we were talking. But I suppose it’s understandable — Matt’s only the founder of the most awesome blogging platform on the globe. Ok stop! now I’m gushing…
The Usual Suspects (the bad boys behind the bloggers’ bash) had wanted to invite Matt to Davao City for the October Summit, but unfortunately he’s already scheduled to be somewhere else during our event (not at liberty to say where, sorry). Shucks. It would’ve been quite a coup! (more…)
bloggers, Matt Mullenweg, Mindanao bloggers summit, WordPress
Google dictionary 2007-08-06 12:53:59 My co-conspirator in The Usual Suspects, Andrew, blogged about Google
’s mathematical and financial problem-solving functionalities awhile back. The Google search bar doesn’t only return results of keyword queries, it also spits out sums, quotients, differences, even forex conversions.
My own preferred use of Google’s extended facility is as a look-up tool for vocabulary. That’s right, Google provides an online dictionary service. Try this out for size: the define: operator. Type a word or phrase after that operator, hit the search button, and Google comes back with word meanings, synonyms, actual usage.
I wish, though, that the Did you mean…? function also worked in case you misspelled a word. (more…)
Sponsored By: 1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit - 27 Oct 2007, Davao City
Google, proper language usage, vocabulary
Blog interviewed 2007-08-05 10:19:22 Recenly, Mike Thomas of BlogInterviewer.com emailed me and said that a kind soul had recommended my blog to be interviewed
. Whoever you are, thanks very much!!
That site is a unique service that helps blogs get promoted through link-love and ratings. What’s good about BlogInterviewer.com, as far as I know, is that it brings out the blogger from behind the blog. In fact, the interview is mostly about the person rather than the blog itself. Since many bloggers do not take the time to write an About page, being interviewed by this service might spur them to do so. Also, readers are given the chance to get to know their favorite blogs’ authors on a bit more personal level.
If you feel like it, vote for my blog interview by clicking on the badge below. You could help me win some moolah, which I intend to donate to charity. You could win too — BlogInterviewer.com gives away prizes to randomly-chosen commenters on my interview.
Sponsored By: DVO Bloggers Network - the Dava
The Filipina is worth fighting for 2007-08-10 00:53:03 Janette Toral has embarked on yet another writing project that is worthy of lengthier attention spans. Right after the successful conduct of the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs project, now comes the “Filipina” Writing Project.
This time, bloggers are not only going to compete literarily, but also in terms of search-engine ranking. This points to the real purpose behind this endeavor: to encourage more people to write about Filipino women and their virtues, strengths, contributions… And thus, at the conclusion of this project, bloggers will have generated content that will hopefully debunk the unsavory image in which Filipinas — our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, cousins, wives, colleagues, friends — have been portrayed online.
This is a laudable effort by Janette, who also authors a blog called Women on the Web, Wireless, and Outsourcing. I’d like to encourage all who read this to participate — not just for the prizes, but for the contrib
A twisted blog awards gig 2007-08-09 03:26:11 It would seem that, after landing the top place (side-by-side with Aileen Apolo) in Janette Toral’s Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2007 writing project, Paolo Mendoza of The Philosophical Bastard is flexing some blog muscle to prove just how influential he really is. Bravo, I say! What better way to do this — seeing how influential his blog could really get — but by drumming up a blog event?
And what a blog event too! Paolo’s running an off-the-beaten-track kind of blog awards, one that’s twisted and irreverent: The Pinoy Evil Blog Awards. The name alone elicits varied reactions, from eyebrow-raising to ROFL.
He’s got awards for Boy Bastos Writing, Best Blog Rant, Most Controversial Post… And of course, there’s the Evil Blog of the Year. It must’ve been fun coming up with all those funky categories!! I especially like how Paolo worded this one: the Most Kickass Writer of the Year award.
Well, what are you waiting for? Get ov
SEO analyzer for everyone 2008-02-07 04:58:29 I’d like to share with you a recent discovery I’ve made on the Web: Website Grader. It’s one of those finds that brings a smile to the lips of bloggers and webmasters. This online tool will help you analyze your site’s SEO
health. While Website Grader works for all websites, it includes reports that are [...] Read more:everyone
Davao Food Trip official blog 2008-01-27 23:34:07 Announcements and other stuff about the ongoing Davao Food Trip will now be published in its own blog: www.davaofoodtrip.org. Bloggers who want to join us can sign up at that new site.
And the gastronomic adventures continue…
Sponsored By: 1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit - 27 Oct 2007, Davao City
Internet advertising essentials 2008-01-22 03:48:44 Here’s what you need to know when you decide to advertise your business via the Internet
. There are in fact a number of methods, and just as many platforms upon which to advertise online, but let’s stick to the World Wide Web for now. And to further simplify it, we’ll focus on search engine marketing.
Probably [...]
Davao Food Trip #4: Salutti 2008-01-09 10:49:07 The other day, it was fortunate that I met up again with Vince & Tricie Arcenas, proprietors of Salutti. That’s because they’ve generously agreed (in fact, they volunteered) to be the venue of the 4th leg of the Davao Food Trip!
Salutti is a cozy little Italian restaurant, located in the Habana compound on Rizal St., [...]
Davao Food Trip @ Belly’s Grill 2008-01-05 03:27:53 It’s now time to call for bloggers for the 3rd leg of the ongoing Davao Food Trip. The next stop will be at Belly’s Grill
, on Quimpo Boulevard. This restaurant is best known for their grilled wild scallops, as well as their barbecue offerings.
The owners of Belly’s Grill will be accommodating 10 bloggers on 11 [...]
Top 100 Mindanao blogs 2008-01-05 03:11:38 Winston Almendras and I had an idea to come up with Mindanao’s own top 100 blogs right before the New Year. And so now we have it, thanks to Winston’s programming prowess. The first publication is online at MindanaoBloggers.com. In the future, we’ll have an updated list on its own page.
We got the idea after [...]
Blog Year 2007 2007-12-31 07:36:33 Today, the last day of 2007, I was reflecting on the events of the last 12 months. My realization: they were good months. Not exactly as I’d planned, but highly satisfactory.
My greatest achievement for this year was the very successful conduct of the first-ever Mindanao Bloggers Summit in October. Surrounded by bloggers and supporters all [...]
The Big G looms even bigger… 2007-12-22 05:49:34 Before the recently-concluded You Got Blogged! Review-a-Blog Competition was over, I received a strange inquiry from a blogger who had wanted to participate. Let’s call him “Manny”. Manny asked me if he could link to the contest sponsors with a nofollow attribute within the link tags. I told him if he did that, it would [...]
Davao Food Trip badge 2007-12-19 03:42:29 Notice the new Davao Food Trip badge? Jehzeel Laurente did it for me. Jehz is a very talented Dabawenyo who is (unfortunately) working in the nation’s capital. He is a software programmer and web developer. He’s also my blog-buddy and business partner (whom I have yet to meet in person). Thanks Jehz!!!
Christmas in Davao 2007-12-17 13:56:23 It’s been quite some time since I last participated in a tag game. So I thought I’d jump in and do one, which I got from Aileen Apolo. It’s about why it’s so much better to spend Christmas
in the Philippines than overseas. (Did I get that right, Aileen?).
What to do: Just share a warm, [...]
And I’m back… 2008-03-15 05:47:47 I apologize for the many days when my blogs were down. This and most of my other blogs were taken offline due to a hardware foul-up at my previous host’s supposedly ‘industry strength’ data center. What a dismaying, depressing week it was for me.
The main reason why I chose Hostican.com for my VPS account was [...]
Davao Food Trip @ Belly’s Grill 2008-03-15 05:15:40 It’s now time to call for bloggers for the 3rd leg of the ongoing Davao Food Trip. The next stop will be at Belly’s Grill
, on Quimpo Boulevard. This restaurant is best known for their grilled wild scallops, as well as their barbecue offerings.
The owners of Belly’s Grill will be accommodating 10 bloggers on 11 [...]
Davao bloggers food trip 2007-12-14 13:09:53 Why do we do this? First of all, it’s fun!
But the truth is, those of us who blog about Davao and what’s great about our city have a passion. We are driven to produce quality and down-to-earth content about our beloved hometown. So now we have a new bloggers
’ gimmick: the Davao Food Trip. The [...]
Ratings plugin 2007-12-09 12:55:50 Again I’ve removed PostReach ClickComments, a 3rd-party service. That’s because I found an “in-house” WordPress plugin that does the job: WP-PostRatings
. I’ve deployed this plugin on Davao Delicious and Mindanao Bloggers. It’s kinda heavy, but manageable.
WordPress Pinoys 2007-12-06 12:42:44 Just joined a forum: WordPress Pinoys, a community of Filipino WordPress bloggers. Might be a good place to get to know other WP enthusiasts like myself. For noobs, I’m sure there are topics on WordPress technical stuff. Aside from the potential blog promotions, I hope to also be able to contribute my meager WP know-how. [...]
WordPress t-shirts 2007-11-30 12:43:42 See this?
I still have three of these WordPress t-shirts, left over from the 1st Mindanao Bloggers Summit. My colleagues in The Usual Suspects are going to whip up another online contest to raffle off these collectibles. Watch out for it! I’ll announce it right here soon.
Thing is, they’re all women’s tees, size small, so maybe [...]
T.U.S. mascots 2007-11-25 13:04:22 Brader Migs, the funny man of The Usual Suspects, has come up with another gimmick for the gang. Migs is constantly cooking up these playful and interesting ideas. This time, he’s given each member of The Usual Suspects a cute mascot.
Sponsored By: DVO Bloggers Network - the Davao blogosphere
Testing WordPress 2.5 RC-1 2008-03-21 17:58:54 I’ve just deployed a fresh install of WordPress 2.5 (the 1st release candidate). After reading Matt’s intro, I was sold! Normally, you see, I don’t upgrade to new versions of software right away. I’m what you’d call a late adopter — partly because I don’t want to deal with the hassles brought on by bugs [...] Read more:Testing
Overcharged for a piece of software? 2008-03-20 13:18:33 A couple of days ago, I bought a one-year license for Kaspersky Internet Security 7. I used PayPal for the transaction. From the catalog to the checkout screen to the PayPal authorization page, the amount declared was $59.95. That’s $59.95. I have an account on that site and was signed in, so that arvato [...] Read more:piece
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