Prudence and Madness

This is just one of those days when I didn’t mind waking up so early and riding the LRT.  I mean, it’s Wordcamp day!  And the first in Southeast Asia (though technically, Wordcamp came to Davao first, ahead by a couple of days)!  Of course, I want to be there, even if sleepless and still tired from my own Oktoberfest last night.   

I’m glad the venue was at CSB as it is a familiar place and easier to reach via public commute (well, at least for me).  Also, it would be nice to visit Vito Cruz once again, after a very long time (even if I was almost run over by (of all vehicles) a pedicab, one of those that infests the side of the road near University Mall and I don’t even understand WHY they have to be stationed there).  Reminds me of my DLSU days when I used to just walk around the corner, pigging on Tapa Queen at Tapa King when I’m to lazy to cook food in the apartment, and be a jeepney away from the nearest mall, Robinson’s Place (I’m particularly disheartened, though, to find that the place has somehow deteriorated over the years that I haven’t seen it.  Honestly, it looked like more like a tiangge than a shopping mall, except for the Midtown wing).

I guess I wasn’t the only camper excited enough to come to the venue early.  I reached CSB 10 minutes before 8 a.m. and there were already a sizable number of bloggers lined up outside CSB’s gate, having their IDs checked and their names ticked off from the list of attendees.  I heard that some have been wondering a bit about CSB’s strict dress code (meaning, no slippers/sandals allowed and no extremely short dresses or any type of clothes that shows “too much” skin).  And my only answer is that, in my 3 years of stay at DLSU (CSB is a member institution of De La Salle schools), I’ve learned that the dress code was implemented not to merely put restrictions on students’ freedom on what to wear in school or on their own fashion sense but rather, to simply teach them how to dress more appropriately, since they will be future professionals.  And I agree, I mean, after all, it would look better if a student comes to school looking as if he had prepared for that day in school, both physically and mentally, rather than looking like somebody who’s been asked by his mother to buy vinegar from the store.  It’s not being just pa-sosyal (although, of course, at times, one can particularly tell the rich, flashy ones from the average joes and janes), it’s simply a matter of dressing appropriately, considering the kind of place you’re going to.

I’m not really sure though if the dress code is still being strictly implemented, as I remember, back in the old days (oh goodness, it was such a long time already!), that as a froshie, I’m quite scared of pissing off Mang Jack (the very popular discipline officer in DLSU) so I follow the dress code but I did see several schoolmates, who wear their shoes coming to school and, after being allowed inside the campus, will change into their slippers, just wishing that they won’t run into Mang Jack during that day.

And so, stepping into CSB was like being sucked into a time machine.  The place changed a bit but the place still looked like the old CSB that I know.  And somehow it felt weird at first to be seeing bloggers in there.  Hehe.  But then, after a while, it felt quite right after some time because bloggers, whenever they gather together, seem to be as happy as young college students just having a regular day in school.  :)

Campers having little chitchats while waiting for Wordcamp to start

If ever there had been fire at CSB today, this would be the cause.  Ahaha.

Parking lane for gadgets (P30 per hour only)

Program started a little bit after 9 a.m. and soon campers divided into groups attending the different tracks scheduled for the day.  I sat in Gail Villanueva’s creating wordpress themes and css power lecture.  I learned a lot from her, though there had been slight difficulties with the projected slides.  I appreciate having learned a bit of CSS tweaking.  I think I may need to review them a bit and I’m hoping that it’ll be made available online.  I got a little peeved, though, when I heard some people in the row behind talking while the lecture is ongoing.  I really have to ask them to tone it down a bit as it’s a bit distracting.  I’m not that sensitive to noises but it has become obviously louder than whispers as my seatmates have also been visibly bothered by it.  Sometimes it does happen that there’s a lull in the lectures/discussions that participants’ attention do drift away and latch on to a different activity like talking with companions.  But, as I think that it’s more proper to do so, it could have been better if it were done a little bit inconspicuously to avoid disturbing those who’ve chosen to listen to the lecture.  And thankfully they’ve done so.  I don’t really remember who they are because it’s already dark and faces can’t register in my mind, especially being a visually-challenged person that I am (okay, I’m almost blind without the contact lenses).  So if that’s you, then I’m sorry I’ve to tell you off, but I really can’t tolerate such.

Ely Apao on Organizing and Optimizing Wordpress blogs

The next track I’ve attended is Ely Apao’s Organizing and Optimizing Wordpress blogs.  I really do need to learn some stuff about this because my blogs, cluttered as they are, needed that much organization and optimization.  I better check the plugins and tools he had recommended.

Get ready for some awesomeness!

Kring Elenzano’s Internet Celebrities and The Power of the Audience was the most entertaining of them all, though (with a little bit of an epic phail episode in there hehe).  Being a videoblogger and working in TV production, she gave us tips on how to shoot our own videoblogs and some handy tricks like using a piece of styrofoam, with the other side painted black, as a reflector when shooting outside on a sunny day.  I’ve been interested for a long time to have some videoblogs made but I totally have no idea on how to begin to.  Well, at least, now I’ve got some ideas I could toy with.  And perhaps, one day, I could convince my kabarkadas to shoot a vlog.  

After the morning tracks were done, we had our lunch at the 4th floor, courtesy of Chowking and Spot.ph.  Everybody’s wonderfully beholden to the colorful tower of cupcakes:

What’s the secret ingredient, asked Spot.ph

And would “nothing” be an answer?  I think I should have written that instead of the corny answer I’ve put on the slip.  Hehe.

After lunch, everybody convened in the theater hall for the afternoon program.  Matt Mullenweg, of course, talked about the future of wordpress and was under the impression that we’re a shy audience, as there were only few questions that were asked.  This was disproved later on when time was alloted for more questions and people in the audience have started making more buzz and he commented that we’ve begun talking too much.  Haha.  Other talks were that of Aileen Apolo on demystifying google analytics, Regnard Raquedan on Web standards, and J. Angelo Racoma on making money with performancing ads.

Wordcamp ended with a sort of “meet-and-greet” with Matt Mullenweg.  I hope he didn’t get too overwhelmed or annoyed with the number of bloggers wanting to having photos taken with him.  But then, of course, being bloggers, we do like very much to camwhore.  :)

For more pictures, just see the slideshow: 

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

I’m quite thankful that Wordcamp happened after the Interview. I got to enjoy it more, I think. It’s been a long while since I’ve attended a big blog event and so, Wordcamp Philippines 2008 became a potent detoxifier for me and a nice wrap-up for my week-long birthday celebration. Hehe.

And what a birthday gift, getting a photo opportunity with Matt Mullenweg. Hihi.

Hey, Matt, thanks for visiting the country! And now we know your favorite Pinoy food is humba.

UPDATE: I’ve recently discovered, by putting the Wordcamp giveaway CD in the cd drive, that there are cool themes, plugins, and other sponsor materials in the CD! Hehehe!

Other Wordcampers who’ve posted about their experience:

• Wordcamp Philippines 2008: The Aftermath in Life in Quadrant 4
• Thoughts on Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Nina
• Wordcamp Philippines 2008: Winners and Bloopers by Kring
• Matt Mullenweg Highlights from Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by TheBachelorGirl
• Live Blogging from Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Spilled Lustre
• Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Mae Paulino
• Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Al Cabasa
• Wordcamp 2008 Philippines by Karla Redor
• Wordcamp Philippines 2008: A Success! by Melo Villareal
• Experiencing Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Jane
• Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Teacher Julie
• Matt At Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Binary Silver
• Wordcamp Manila 2008, I was There! by Sha Ang
• Wordcamp Philippines, First Southeast Asia Wordcamp by Ana Katharina Pena
• On Wordcamp 2008 and Meeting Mr. Wordpress by diventare.org
• Wordcamp Philippines shirt, please? by the receptionist
• Wordcamp Philippines ‘08 by L.A.
• The First Wordcamp in Southeast Asia by Jeric
• My Wordcamp Experience by Master Betong
• Wordcamp Philippines by Hannah
• Wordcamp PH 2008 and the Afterparty by Carlo Reid
• Wordcamp Philippines After Party from Wordcamp Philippines Blog
• Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Aja Lapus
• Matt Mullenweg, Volunteers, and Wordcamp Philippines by Misteryosa
• The Wordcamp in Philippines by Mark Aethen Agana
• Bloggers’ Event: Wordcamp Philippines 2008 by Ada
• Wordcamp Manila Blow-by-blow by Jonel Uy
• Ernie Meets Matt Mullenweg by AJ
• Wordcamping 2008 by Billycoy
• Just got home from Wordcamp 2008 by Jayvee Fernandez
• Matt Taught Me To Post via Mobile by Ria Jose
• Finally Wordcamp Philippines 2008 from Rough Groove
• My Wordcamp Philippines 2008 Experience by Micamyx
• WordCamp 2008 Philippines: It’s a success! by Joyceish
• My WordCamp 2008 Experience by Fitz Villafuerte
• A Personal Evaluation of WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Danny Arao
• An Event Which I Failed To Attend by Dexter Panganiban
• The Wordpress WordCamp Fever by Pinoy Web Listing
• WordCamp Philippines by Batang Yagit
• Philippine WordCampers 2008 by Sabrina Lajara
• WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Roanna Roro
• On Meeting with Mr. Wordpress, Web Standards and Other Stuff by Shari
• WordCamp Philippines 2008 Highlights
• WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Mong Palatino
• WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Rowjielogy
• I was WordCamped by The Industrious Time-Waster
• HURAH! for WordCamp Philippines by Migs Hipolito
• WordCamp is on today at De La Salle - CSB by AIM CSB
• WordCamp Philippines 2008 Updates by Teacher Julie
• My WordCamp Philippines 2008 Experience by Icezorg
• I was at WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Gail Villanueva
• WordCamp Philippines 2008 Ramblings by Sarah Cada
• Weekend Snapshots #6 WordCamp Philippines by Joni Ang
• My WordCamp 2008 Experience by Paul Villacorta
• Success! by WordCamp Philippines Blog
• WordCamp Philippines 2008 by Tina Elaine
• On Being a Remarkable Responsible Blogger by The Scrumptious Anime Blog
• Word-F’N-Camp! by The Deranged Writer