Blogging from a Tropical Island Paradise… with Wireless! (Bert Padilla drops in from Cebu)

(Reading time: 6 – 9 minutes)

So much of blogging seems so impersonal: SEO this, list post that. So boring. Totally misses the point, too. In the end, without people, blogging is no more interesting than a trip to the vending machine:

“You want Coke or Pepsi?”

Choice!

Yeah, right.

Not being a vending machine (nor a blog resembling a vending machine) Website In A Weekend will continue to shine the spotlight on bloggers making a difference, both large and small.

Before we get started, keep in mind I do have an agenda here. I am setting the stage for a related article running in the near future, and exposing some (possibly lucrative) opportunity.

Here’s the next interview in the Website In A Weekend Pre-writing participant series. Long time readers will recognize Bert Padilla as the Cebu Tech Blogger, who visits (and comments) on an irregular basis (don’t we all!). It turns out Bert is as busy as the rest of us, but I pinned him down for a few questions. I even got a little information about Cebu, an island in the Philippine Republic which, frankly, doesn’t get near the recognition it deserves.

Let’s talk to Bert.

WiaW: When did you first become aware of blogging?

Bert: The first time I heard about blogging was in 2005, the year I started using Friendster. My understanding about blogging during that time was just simply to write stories about yourself, like an online journal where you write everything you think your friends have to know. I read my friend’s blog posts and later on, I published my own article using Friendster’s built-in blogging tools. I become more aware of blogging late 2008, the time I looked for other opportunities since everyone’s job was at risk during the worst recession.

WiaW: How long have you been blogging?

Bert: To be exact, I’ve been blogging for one year and five months already. I first used Blogger as the blogging platform since January 2009, and make use of WordPress when I joined the Cebu Bloggers Society.

WiaW: Cebu is described in Wikipedia as one of the most developed provinces in the Philippine Republic. Is there technical culture in Cebu?

Bert: Being a historical place during the Spanish and American regime, Cebu is also the home for high-ranking politicians in the history of Philippine government. The economy of the province has been developed, making Cebu City as the second most significant center of business in the Philippines. The University of San Carlos, which is located in Cebu City, played a significant role when it became part of the network that first connected to the internet in 1994. Because of the fast growing IT development in Cebu, it become a site for call centers and BPO companies, and also become a software and e-services hub in the Southeast Asian region.

WiaW: What is your main blogging focus right now?

Bert: I can see some opportunities in blogging, but I have no plans of leaving my job yet. I enjoy doing it and I love it on the first place. So the best I can do is by blogging on the niche I’m interested in. Talking about technology and the internet in general is easier for me to do, so this would be my blogging focus right now.

WiaW: Do you have any side projects?

Bert: At work, yes. I always look for opportunities where I can do special projects out of the scope of my “real” day job. In my blogging career, I’ve partnered with a fellow Cebu Bloggers Society member who worked as a SEO specialist at NetCentral Communications, Inc. – but is now working full time as a freelancer. We are currently working on a website, which is my first attempt to do a freelance work. For the Cebu Bloggers Society, I am still active participating several blogging events and business promotions.

WiaW: Where do expect to be with blogging next year? In 5 years?

Bert: I’ve always dreamed of becoming an influential tech blogger even just here in Cebu. I am still developing my writing skills so I can make professional reviews on different products. By next year, you can expect Cebu Tech Blogger blog to be self-hosted and using WordPress platform. There might be regular contributors and the blog itself would be one of the leading sources of tech news in the Philippines. In the next 5 years, I might be working full time in blogging… or it really depends. I am always open for job opportunities abroad, so it’s quite hard for me to figure out what really to expect with this blogging endeavor.

WiaW: How does your family feel about all this internet and blogging stuff?

Bert: Honestly, I think my parents have no idea about this. I never told them. My sister found out that I frequently attended blogging events, and I really have a blog. So my sister was the first one to know, and I’m not sure if she told them. My relatives have learned about my blogging through social networking sites like Facebook, and I’m glad that they really like what I’m doing.

WiaW: What else should people know about Cebu?

Bert: There are many wonders of Cebu that remained “undiscovered” or yet not fully known by a lot of people. Hopefully, these wonders will be explored more.

I can count on the Cebu bloggers to help in digging out these wonders bit by bit.

Moreover, people around the world should know about the passion of every “Cebuano” in attaining a common goal.

Let’s take into account, for instance, Cebu Bloggers Society. The thing that I’ve admired about this group is the commonality of its goal to mine which is to promote Cebu. Though its members are into different niches in blogging, there is the denominator that binds them and the keyword here is Cebu.

Cebuanos are proud being Cebuanos and of being in Cebu. However, that may seem a general statement. But so far, I have not heard or known from any Cebuano undermining him or her being a Cebuano. And I think that pride really sets the passion glowing.

For those who really wish to visit Cebu, you may find Cebu worth enough to stay!

And that’s all I could get!

Near as I can tell, Bert lives on a tropical island paradise that has wireless internet. What’s not to love?

Here’s a few more resources:

• Bert’s main cite, Cebu Tech blog.
• The movers and shakers: Cebu Bloggers Society.
• Cultural history: Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
• There has to be more, but this is what I found: Natural wonders of Cebu.

It turns out that Google search results for both natural and human history of Cebu returned websites that are, frankly, pretty lame. Just about every single one of you reading these words, right now, could absolutely dominate search results for Cebu, using the blogging strategies you already know. Watch for more information very soon from a colleague of mine – who is planning on doing exactly that – from a tropical island paradise halfway around the planet.

One thing for sure, if I ever visit the Philippines, I’m definitely visiting Cebu.