My First Social Media Day Experience

Last Saturday, I arrived at Ayala Triangle Garden just in time for the Social Media Day 2012 hosted by Tweetup Manila. This would also be my first time attending this kind of event where I get a chance to meet different people whose common denominator would be the Social Media. 

There were more than a hundred people who showed up and got counted, around 400+ to be exact. Lucky attendees were given freebies courtesy of the event's sponsors. And at the same time, other parts of the country celebrated their Social Media Day like Cebu, Davao, Iligan, Cagayan De Oro down south and Quezon City up north. 

With close to 30 million facebook users and almost the same number of twitter users who regularly go online every single day, no wonder why we are today's number one in terms of photo and video uploads. We Pinoys have the habit of sharing anything that is fun and makes us happy. 

I've roamed around the venue and got to meet familiar faces as well as new ones by the time the event has started. The program was hosted by Tweetup Manila's Tonyo Cruz and Rosario Juan (which I like their T-Shirts). Other speakers include Ms Daphne Osena-Paez, Gang Badoy, Carlo Ople, and Ms World Philippines Queenrich Rehman. 

I wanted to stay longer at the event but I need to be somewhere in Quezon City for another Social Media Day Event. 

It was really a fun and learning experience for me. I hope I could attend next year's Social Media Day. 

Pictures to follow soon. XD

Florabel: Is the food good?

 


One Sunday afternoon, my wife, daughter and I went to The Podium to have late lunch at Florabel using my cashcashpinoy vouchers. But the night before, I was a bit apprehensive on what to order because I've read more bad reviews than good reviews and even my wife got apprehensive too. Well, I just trusted on my instincts and positive thinking hoping that we will enjoy our lunch.

 

I like their towering wine rack.

When we got there, there were a few people having lunch (off-peak hours). We were able to secure a good table with good lighting before placing our order.

She's the boss. XD

A piece of bread with butter to start us up.

Two glasses of water will do for us, for now. XD

And while we wait for our orders, I took some time to take pictures of its lovely interior. Though if you ask me, they could have done better.

Their interiors are classic yet minimalist in style.

We started off with their Tomato Soup (200 pesos). We usually order a bowl of soup as my daughter can't have food without soup. Their Tomato Soup was also topped with ricotta cheese and baby arugula yet tasted just fine as we tried not to order the ones we usually get.

Tomato Soup in a Bowl.

Next is their famous Friendship Salad (475 pesos). For some reason, this was the dish that I liked best. Its a mixed of crispy prawns with kani with tropical fruits and sesame dressing. I initially wanted to try their tuna salad but my wife was not fond of raw fish hence, we got this one.

Friendship Salad

 



For pasta, we got Ricky (425 pesos). Without a doubt, this was one of the best tasting pasta dishes we've ever tried. With the good combination of sausage, salami, frankfurters, and mushroom in basil pesto, my wife and I got sold to this dish with penne as our choice of noodles.

Say hello to Ricky Penne (Pasta) XD.

For the main couse, we had Adobo ala Florabel (425 pesos). This was the dish that I was hoping for that would bring out our experience there, yet it tastes like your usual Adobo. The presentation was fine but the taste wasn't as grand as we expected.

Adobo ala Florabel

To refresh ourselves (my wife I mean), she ordered Fresh Strawberry Juice (180 pesos). It was refreshing as well as its cold enough and its served in a tall glass.

Fresh Strawberry Juice in a tall glass XD.

My wife enjoying her late lunch.

And to end our meal, we had Mango Crepe Samurai (208 pesos). Its mangoes with homemade crepe topped with Sabayon. It tasted good enough that I was hoping the serving would be good for two.

Mango Crepe Samurai

While waiting for our bill, I took the liberty of taking some more pictures.

Mommy and Baby take a pose.

Marien taking her drink.

Marien seems to enjoy her meal.

This is what happens every time we had our meals. XD

What I've learned about this experience.

1. If you have read a bad review about the restaurant, it doesn't mean that you'll encounter the same experience as well.

2. You may ask the waiters for recommendation but still trust your gut feel and your taste buds more.

Pictures to follow soon. XD

Social Media Day on June 30 (Another event)

Since I'll be dropping by to Makati tomorrow, why not go to the Third Social Media Day to be held at the Tower One & Exchange Fountain Area, Ayala Triangle Garden. And since the other Social Media Day I'll be attending will be later that evening, I guess going to two won't hurt right? ^_^

Taken from their website

Tomorrow, the Philippines joins the world in celebrating Social Media Day this weekend with a gathering of Twitterati, bloggers and other internet users in Makati City and elsewhere in the country. 

The sheer increase in numbers made us the world's social media mecca since 2010 as more than 27 million Filipinos (me included) regularly log-on to Facebook while a couple of million have made Twitter a popular site for news, trends and information. I just recently signed-up at Twitter out of curiosity and I never looked back ever since. By 2008, we have led the way in terms of uploading photos and videos and share them to friends here and abroad.

The event is being organized by the community of netizens behind TweetUp Manila and the first Twestival Manila, and whose work and passions have brought them together both online and offline.

Filipino Twitterati, bloggers, advocates, practitioners from media, business, government are expected to grace that day's celebration of creativity, community and conversation that has pushed individuals, companies and organizations, and the nation many steps forward and ahead of the rest of the world.

There is much reason to celebrate social media in the Philippines: its creation of new careers and new opportunities, the awesome efforts to use new tools for helping during and after disasters such as Ondoy and Sendong, the new space for media, politics and expression, citizen journalism and cutting-edge, content-rich multimedia practice, and industry going digital to reach and affect more people whether thru marketing, PR or advertising.

Supporting the Makati event are Ayala Land, Inc., Make It Makati, TV5, Beyond the Box, Crumpler, NetBooster Asia, eLearning Edge, Unilab, EchoStore, Michelis, Axe, Garnier, Boracay, Adobo Magazine and KLM, among others.

If you want to join tomorrow's event, you may sign-up here.

See you tomorrow. ^_^

And the 2012 FHM Sexiest is...

The last time there was a back-to-back winner for FHM's 100 Sexiest was around 2006-2007. That was the time when Katrina Halili was on her prime (well she's still looks like she's on her prime until she got pregnant =P). And she would be the third FHM Babe to be the sexiest aside from Halili and Angel Locsin. She's no other than...

Sam Pinto!!!

From fhm.com.ph

She only bested Angel Locsin by just a little over hundred thousand votes that were casted via SMS, Online, and Print Ballot (out of 17 million votes cast). When she won the top spot last year, some eyebrows were raised as they say she's not sexy enough to be on the top spot. Well, she proved them wrong by redefining the meaning of the word sexy.

To complete the top 10 list, here you go (and some side comment XD). All of them have already graced the cover except for one =P

1. Sam Pinto

2. Angel Locsin
 

3. Solenn Heussaff
 

4. Cristine Reyes
 

5. Marian Rivera <-- I don't think she deserves this spot as she has still disappoint thousands of fans for not gracing the covers of FHM (well that's just me and I think others would feel the same).
 

6. Ellen Adarna
 

7. Jackie Rice
 

8. Bela Padilla
 

9. Jennylyn Mercado
 

10. Lovi Poe

I'm hoping someone would do a grandslam next year XD. 

Again! Congratulations to Sam!!! ^_^

Social Media Day on June 30

This would be the third annual Social Media Day event since 2010. This would be my first time to attend so see you there! ^_^

Taken from Google

Celebrate Social Media Day 2012 at Tomas Morato, QC this June 30!

Press Release

The Social Media Day is a worldwide event spearheaded by Mashable.com, which celebrates the connected generation around the world on June 30, 2012. In the Philippines, several key cities would take part in the celebration, which is very appropriate because the country is hailed as the social media capital of the world.

One of these events will be a networking event for social media citizens, bloggers, and digital personalities at Tea 101 Taiwan's No. 1 Drink located at Scout Bayoran corner Tomas Morato Extension, Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City. The venue is in front Hotel Rembrandt and IL Terrazzo Mall. The event starts at 7 PM on Saturday. Manila Social Media Day 2012 in particular aims to provide an appropriate venue for the community to mingle and meet-up offline, which can support better camaraderie afterwards through various social media and digital platforms.

The first 100 pre-registered participants at the venue will receive unlimited tea drinks and loot bags. In order to pre-register, just simply e-mail your contact information, social media accounts, and your answer to “What makes you interesting?”

Taken from Google

Acclaimed director, producer, writer, & blogger Jose Javier Reyes (@DirekJoey) will share his insights about the new aspects of socialization on the Internet. Manila Social Media Day 2012 is brought to you by Flawless Face & Body Clinic, Smart Communications, the genuine Thermos brand, Wild Ones Tattoo, and Dentiste Toothpaste.

Like our Official Facebook Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ManilaSMDay
Follow our Official Twitter Account: http://www.twitter.com/ManilaSMDay
RSVP via Meetup.com: http://www.meetup.com/Mashable/Quezon-City/711752/

International Hashtag: #SMDay
Localized Hashtag: #ManilaSMDay

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

King del Rosario
Volunteer Organizer
Manila Social Media Day 2012
@kingdelrosario
manilasocialmedia@gmail.com