Inside the Mindanao Bloggers Summit (part 1)

I’m sure a lot of bloggers who joined the Mindanao Bloggers summit has posted or will be posting what they experienced during the summit.

So “para maiba”, I’ll be posting what happened during the summit that most of you didn’t see.

Two of the very first to arrive at the venue was Councilor Peter Lavina, who was also one of our speakers and a sponsor; and Paul Ryan Soriano of Teh blog Tech who also won a special award for the most creative posts with regards to the summit. I was the third to arrive (do i get to win something? =p), i think that was past 8:oo am. Then charles of Dabawpinoy.

The NCCC Mall wasn’t opened yet (to the public – mall hours starts at 9:00 am) and so the organizers and volunteers had to come in from the loading bay or mall employees entrance.

Blogie of Ang Dabawenyo and also one of the organizers (Organizers’ Team Lead) was the 5th person to arrive (ay 5th kalang… hanggang top 4 lang ang may early bird prize.. hahahhaa). Escalators were still off and so he had to climb the stairs from the ground floor up to the 4th floor (where the venue is) carrying 3 bags – laptop, projector, and some of the prizes. (mabigat ba?)

9:00 am: there were already 3 blogger-participants who arrived. But Kim (who was part of the organizing committee and in charge of the registration and was also one of the speakers – talk about multi-tasking!) was still on her way. Same with other members of the committee. (Buking!) Well that’s ok… coz we were really expecting the participants to come by 10:00 am. yah know.. the ever popular “Filipino Time”.

Blogie had to go home. he forgot the power cable for the camera (that’s a sign blogs, bawal ang pork, bawal ang beef, bawal ang shrimps.. ). He returned after 15 minutes. Yeah his house was near the venue (Buti na lang).

The first few participants who arrived early were given freebies from Google – either a Google pen or a “Google something” for the phone (hindi ko alam kung anong tawag sa pang sabit sa cellphone).

Past 9:30 am: I think all the organizers have arrived. Registration started. There were only few participants. One even told me that another participant was still on his way from Kidapawan City (Kidapawan is a 2-2.5 hour drive to Davao City). And the other speakers are still no where in sight. But blogie siad they were on their way.

Past 10:00 am: All of the speakers have arrived. The prizes and gift bags were being arranged. Last minute preparations for the slides to be used. Blogie told me that we’ll start the program at 10:30 am.

10:30 am: The program started.

Continued to Part 2