Bloggers Unite for a fun-filled Bloggers Fest!

Held last April 16, 2011, Thunderbird Resorts hosted this year’s Bloggers Fest – an activity-filled day that includes talks and workshops with about 200 blogger attendees from various categories. Azrael Coladilla explains on manilabloggers.blogspot.com, “The objective of the event is to have a venue for free mentorship on blogging and as well as networking with Filipino bloggers and participating companies.”

To share knowledge, advises and tips to fellow bloggers on the first half of the program were Azrael Coladilla of Azrael's Merryland Blog on "Blogging 101"; Micaela Rodriguez of Micamyx.com on "Sharing your story through personal blogging"; Jonel Uy of Blogger Manila on "Blogging and Writing with SEO in mind"; Antonio Carranza JR of PusangKalye.net on "Photo Blogging Essentials".

Azrael Coladilla

Micaela Rodriguez

Jonel Uy

Anton Carranza, Jr.

Followed by workshops wherein bloggers split into small groups for Photography, Music Blogging, Food Blogging, Blog Coverage, and Casino 101 at Thunderbird Resorts’ Fiesta Casino.

TheDigitalfilipino.com's Janette Toral also graced the event

The Bloggers Fest resumed with talks from Fitz Villafuerte of Ready to be Rich.com on "How To Write Awesome Blog Posts"; Arvin Ello of Vintersections.com on "Beating Writer's Block and The Importance of Revision"; JP De Leon of Kampeon ng Pagibig.co on "Domain and DNS Management for your blogs"; and Marlon Guzman of Solid Hosting on "How to Secure your Blog from Hacking".

Fitz Villafuerte

Arvin Ello

JP De Leon

Marlon Guzman

Bloggers Flow Galindez and Omar Itay kept the audience awake and energetic with their witty spiels and jokes as moderators of the event.

Not to go home empty-handed, an abundant number of raffle prizes were given away to the bloggers - freebies from VSO Bahaginan, Primer Group of Companies, Janette Toral, a total of 20 Basic web hosting plan from Solidhosting.ph, ‘I Like Thunderbird Resorts’ T-Shirt, Discount coupons from Anywhere Philippines, plus giveaways from other Bloggers.

Major raffle prizes were Zest Air roundtrip tickets for two to any local destination and an Overnight stay at Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point, La Union.

Zest air Roundtrip Ticket winners

Winner of Overnight Stay for Two at Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point

The Young Photographers of the Philippines Club also awarded the Best Creative Photo shot by Crizalie Olimpo with model www.thecreativedork.com. Both received Day Tour for Two Gift Certificate from Thunderbird Resorts

Special thanks to Zest Air as the event’s major sponsor and in partnership with Travelbook.ph, Nuffnang, Enjoy Philippines, Baicapture, SolidHosting.PH, Perfect Renders, Primer Group of Companies, Monsters Production, Citypoynt.com and Manila Bloggers Network.

Photos courtesy of Jeman Villanueva II of www.orangemagazine.tv and Fitz Villafuerte of Ready to be Rich.com

Thunderbird Resorts awards P100k to the Extraordinary Video

The Extraordinary Grand Prize winning video featured a guy going about his daily routine with such enthusiasm only to reveal in the end that he’s on a wheelchair. The video closes with the text “You Make Yourself Extraordinary.” On the day of the awarding, the Grand Prize winner Randolph Longjas received his award with both legs able and walking, a big surprise to all those present.

Grand Prize Winner Randolph Longjas

“The video was inspired by my family’s adopted brother who can’t walk,” Longjas explained. “Despite the disability, he brings joy to our family and since he came, he brought so many blessings to us, like winning in this video contest.”

The Grand Prize Winner was determined by a panel of judges that includes Anton Diaz of OurAwesomePlanet.com, videographer Bob Nicolas, Prof. Patrick Campos of the UP Film Institute and Thunderbird Resorts Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Felbin Soto.

Ma. Veronica Guingon got one of the highest votes

Carla Baful's entry was chosen as the Favorite Video of Thunderbird Resorts representatives

The Five Most Voted video winners who received P5k cash prize, P10k worth of Thunderbird Resorts GC and Enjoy Philippines Card were Diane S. Hular (1029 votes); Apple Mae J. Shiroma (1027 votes); Shobert C. Hallig (917 votes); Caylene K. Paras (911 votes) and Ma. Veronica S. Guingon (593 votes), while Carla Baful snagged the Special Prize of Apple iPad and P10k worth of Thunderbird Resorts GC for being the Favorite Video as selected by Thunderbird Resorts representatives.

“What Makes You Extraordinary?” was the question posted in the contest, wherein participants must answer by submitting a video best explaining their reasons. By the end of February 2011, a total of 58 video entries were received which were then posted online for the voting period that ran from March 1to 25 2011. The awarding proper took place last April 16, 2011 at Thunderbird Resorts Rizal’s newly-opened Event Center.

Present to award the winners were Thunderbird Resorts executives and managers namely Mr. Shaun Thomsen, Chief Gaming Officer; Mr. Herbert Williams, Rizal’s General Manager; Ms. Katalene Agmata, CorpComm & Hotel Marketing Manager; and Brent Fernandez, Entertainment & Casino Marketing Manager. Serving as emcee of the ceremony was CorpComm Assistant Gerico Punzalan.

Special thanks to Zest Air as the event’s major sponsor and in partnership with Travelbook.ph, Nuffnang, Enjoy Philippines, Baicapture, SolidHosting.PH, Perfect Renders, Primer Group of Companies, Monsters Production, Citypoynt.com and Manila Bloggers Network.

Photos by: Anton Carranza Jr. of www.pusangkalye.net

Extraordinary Online Video Contest Awarding & Bloggers Fest At Thunderbird Resorts Rizal

On April 16, 2011, Thunderbird Resorts awards the winning Extraordinary Video to bag the much-coveted P100k cash prize and Vacation Getaway. The awarding proper takes place at Thunderbird Resorts Rizal’s newly-opened Event Center.

“What Makes You Extraordinary?” was the question posted in the contest, wherein participants must answer by submitting a video best explaining their reasons. By the end of February 2011, a total of 58 video entries were received which were then posted online for the voting period that ran from March 1to 25 2011.

The Grand Prize Winner is determined by a panel of judges that includes Anton Diaz of OurAwesomePlanet.com, videographer Bob Nicolas, Prof. Patrick Campos of the UP Film Institute and Thunderbird Resorts Chief Sales & Marketing Officer Felbin Soto.

While the Five Consolation Prizes of P10k Thunderbird Resorts GC, P5k Cash Prize and Enjoy Philippines card is based on the Five Most Voted Videos. An Apple iPad also awaits the Favorite Video shot at Thunderbird Resorts.

Happening on the same day, Thunderbird Resorts is also the host of this year’s Bloggers Fest – an activity-filled day that includes seminars and workshops with expected attendees of about 200 bloggers from various categories. Azrael Coladilla explains on manilabloggers.blogspot.com, “The objective of the event is to have a venue for free mentorship on blogging and as well as networking with Filipino bloggers and participating companies.”

“Inspired from last year’s Bloggers Fiesta Manila, the Bloggers Fest features co-bloggers to serve as speakers on different topics and to share their experiences and give tutorials on how to have a successful blog site,” Coladilla added.

Thunderbird Resorts’ thrust is to create extraordinary experiences for its guests, giving them a luxurious vacation lifestyle with each stay. It holds two world-class properties here in the Philippines catering to leisure, sports, recreation and entertainment activities. One is located in the highland oasis of Binangonan, Rizal; the other Mediterranean-inspired property is in the peninsula of Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union. Through the online video contest and bloggers event, Thunderbird Resorts shares this Extraordinary experience and more.

Special thanks to Zest Air as the event’s major sponsor and in partnership with Travelbook.ph, Nuffnang, Enjoy Philippines, Baicapture, SolidHosting.PH, Dependable Printing, Perfect Renders and Manila Bloggers Network.

Visit www.thunderbird-asia.com.