I also met Tess, Julie, Benj, Geri, Drin, Sorsi, Juned, and (not the first time) Jonas.

It was my first time attending a blogger event, and I’m looking forward to attending one again. Hopefully next time my wife would come along (with whom Sorsi needs to verify some things with regards to my comments). :p

More pictures can be found here.

Now, for a fresh new look:

If you want a freshlook or you want to look unique then you can try colored contact lens. They are available in different sizes, styles and colors. For eye diseases it is better not to use any without doctor’s prescription. Many bloggers have posted their reviews on website from there you can find the best contact lens discount and you can even compare prices of different brands.

I can attest to this — whenever I have Bonuan bangus served it always had this distinctly better smell and taste that I cannot describe than the bangus that are available from markets in Manila. It was only while reading the article did I find out the way to distinguish Bonuan bangus — and the “aliens” have taken steps to counter that distinction:

To the untrained eye, an “alien” bangus looks exactly the same as a Dagupan bangus. But Perez said one just has to smell the gills to know the difference.

“An alien bangus has that distinctive, unpleasant, mud-like odor,” she said.

But some vendors have become creative, Perez said, by applying tawas (alum) to the fish to eliminate the odor.

“We have worked very hard in marketing our bangus as the best in the world and we should not allow these ‘aliens’ to destroy [our efforts] just like that,” Perez said.[Inquirer.net]

Likewise, the article published suggestions on how to differentiate genuine Bonuan bangus:

Molina said more than the warning signs, local producers should develop a branding process for their product.

“We also have to be creative,” Molina said.

She said she has met with bangus wholesalers here and they have agreed to draw up a process to protect Dagupan bangus.

For instance, she said, they could package bangus the way dressed chickens are sold in supermarkets.

“This way, we will be able to easily determine who among the wholesalers are dealing with a specific [variety of] bangus,” Molina said. [Inquirer.net]

While I am disappointed on how unscrupulous businessmen try to take unfair advantage of the Bonuan bangus’ reputation, I see this as a positive development to the local informal market. Local milkfish dealers suddenly found the need to brand and differentiate their beloved produce from others in the market.

If Dagupan milkfish dealers manage to properly brand their bangus as genuine, not only would Bunoan bangus be able to compete and differentiate from inferior local bangus, but it would also be able to distinguish itself from Vietnamese or Thai milkfish in the international market.

My only wish would be that they don’t go the way of the dried mango industry, with almost identical green-and-yellow branding and packages.

Now that’s what I call “making the best out of a burger flipping job!”

I never realized that it would be this big. I guess it goes to show just how many people take the role that Jollibee played in their lives and their culture seriously, even if a lot of them are already abroad.

If Tony Tancaktiong could see this… I could just imagine that big smile in the poster where he’s holding that trophy for some award.

I’m glad we didn’t go. Though I’m sure the crowd at Eastwood smelled a little better than that in Divisoria on a windy late afternoon, the story last night showed several irate people demanding their money back as they were not able to get any food at all. Some bloggers who were there described the place as more akin to a refugee camp than anything else:

http://psych0sis.pansitan.net/2005/10/worlds-longest-buffet-rants.html
http://applejoy.blogdrive.com/archive/48.html
http://jelgueco.blogspot.com/2005/10/failed-expectations.html